69novels Chapter 417
Chapter 417
The heat of the Champions League group stage draw ceremony did not last too long, but it was also a warm-up for the Champions League in advance.
Under the leadership of Stewart.
Manchester City players quickly gathered their minds and nervously started preparing for the current league schedule.
August 26.
The third round of the Premier League match day arrived, and Manchester City continued their away trip.
Came to Blackburn City in Lancashire to face Blackburn Rovers, the opponent in the last round of last season.
Last time they met.
Blackburn's tenacious defense left a deep impression on Su Fei. It was not until the 75th minute of the game that Manchester City scored a goal to completely ensure the championship.
However, this season.
This team, which had topped the Premier League in the mid-1990s with the "SAS" combination of Alan Shearer and Christopher Sutton.
After returning to the Premier League in the 2001-02 season, it felt a bit worse and worse and was unable to do its best.
Last season, they ranked 8th in the Premier League.
In the first two rounds of this season, they lost 0:3 to Portsmouth and drew 1:1 with Everton.
These were the teams they had defeated last season.
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At 4:30 in the evening, at Ewood Park, pre-match press conference.
Stuart and Mark Hughes, the head coach who is still coaching Blackburn, met on a narrow road.
Mark Hughes started his sarcasm with a fake smile.
"Congratulations, you will play in the Champions League this season."
"Thank you."
"I hope you can qualify in the group stage instead of being eliminated in the first round."
"You don't need to worry about it!"
Stuart blew his beard and glared. The old man didn't have a good impression of Hughes, who came from Manchester United.
The two looked at each other with disgust and walked into the interview site of the home and away teams respectively.
After dealing with the annoying reporters.
Stuart quickened his pace and returned to the locker room.
He raised his right hand and made a "2" gesture.
"Last time we played against them, we beat them by 1 goal. Today, I hope this number can become 2!"
Old players who are familiar with Stewart can see the anger in the old man's eyes.
Cassano whispered in Su Fei's ear.
"The boss is angry again."
"Hmm."
Su Fei did not comment. Stewart has this temper. As long as the opponent coach provokes him, the anger bar will be instantly full.
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Five o'clock in the evening.
After the appearance ceremony, the starting lineups of both sides have stood in their respective half.
Ewood Park is not only home fans of Blackburn, but also about 2,000 Blue Moon fans with the team.
The explosion of 2,000 Manchester City fans is no less decibel than that of 30,000 home fans.
At the ESPN commentary desk, Wang Tao and Zhan Jun are also in place.
"ESPN Sports Satellite TV!"
"ESPN Sports Satellite TV!"
"Welcome to watch the live broadcast of the third round of the 2006-07 Premier League, Blackburn vs. Manchester City!"
"I am the commentator Zhan Jun!"
"Today, I will bring you live commentary with Wang Tao!"
"First, let me introduce you to the starting lineups of both teams!"
"Home team, wearing blue and white jerseys, Blackburn!"
"Starting goalkeeper: Friedel!"
"Defenders: Emedon, Neil, Oyer, Todd!"
"Four midfielders: Bentley, Tugai, Pedersen, Savage!"
"Two forwards: Nonda, McCarthy!"
"Blackburn's formation is 4-4-2. This summer, their main signing is central defender Andre Oyer from PSV Eindhoven to strengthen the team's back line. Defence line."
"The other side!"
"The visiting team, wearing retro pink jerseys, Manchester City!"
"Starting goalkeeper: James!"
"Defensive line: Zambrotta, Cannavaro, Dunn, Sun Jihai!"
"Defensive midfielder: Martinez!"
"Left and right midfielders: Bale, Modric!"
"Three forwards: Cassano, Su Fei, Podolski!"
"Manchester City still uses a 4123 offensive formation. Since Knight was injured and absent, the Welsh youngster Bale has played as the starting left midfielder for two consecutive games and performed well."
"Beep!"
"With the referee's whistle, the game officially begins!"
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ManchesterCity possession, opening the game with a fierce attack.
Su Fei knocked the ball back to Modric behind him.
He rushed between Blackburn's two forwards Nonda and McCarthy, and Modric's pass followed closely.
A tacit wall cooperation!
Su Fei, who got the ball, was quickly surrounded by Tugai and Pedersen.
Su Fei passed the ball slowly to Cassano who followed up on the left rib.
The Barry boy dribbled the ball and changed direction, got rid of Bentley's defense, changed the line and pulled to the side, dribbling the ball to the bottom.
Blackburn's formation shrank, and left back Emerton chose to wait for Cassano to cut in on the left side of the penalty area.
"Cassano!"
"Stop the ball..."
"High kick, go to the penalty area!"
"This one!"
"The power was not well controlled, and it passed Su Fei who squeezed into the penalty area from the middle..."
"Podolski!"
"Header!"
"This ball..."
"Just a little bit! What a pity! It's a bit weak!"
"The ball was confiscated by Blackburn goalkeeper Friedel."
"Brad Friedel, born in 1971, is from the United States. He was once selected as the best goalkeeper in the United States in 1997, and then successfully joined Liverpool."
"It's a pity that in his three-year career at Liverpool, Friedel failed to start the team, starting 25 games in three years."
"However, after joining Blackburn at the end of 2000, this American who came to Europe to pursue his dreams successfully became the number one main force of the Premier League team."
In the ESPN live broadcast room, Wang Tao talked freely.
On the pitch, Manchester City continued to put pressure on Blackburn on the defensive end and pressed the front court.
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5th minute of the game.
Sun Jihai, who made a forward run on the right wing, successfully fell to the ground near the center line and snatched the ball from Savic's feet.
Then he quickly passed the ball diagonally to Modric to promote the counterattack.
Modric protected the ball sideways.
Then he passed it to Podolski who was pressing near the baseline on the left side.
"Podolski!"
"Let's see how this ball will be handled!"
"Yeah!"
"Still a cross from the bottom line, high into the penalty area!"
"This ball..."
"Dutch international Oyer!"
"He cleared the ball with a volley and sent the ball directly out of the penalty area, helping the team block Manchester City's attack this time!"
"Oyer is good!"
"There were also key clearances in the first two games. After coming from the Eredivisie to the Premier League, he adapted very quickly."
On the side of the pitch.
Mark Hughes clapped his hands in satisfaction, celebrating his players' defense, and then raised his neck to Stewart who was not far away.
Provocation!
Naked provocation!
How could Stewart bear it? He stretched his neck and yelled at the field.
"Charge!"
"Don't give them a chance to breathe!"
"Goal!"
"I need a goal!!"
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On the field, Manchester City players continued to attack.
In the 12th minute of the game, Cassano and Bale made a two-on-one cooperation and successfully got the chance to dribble the ball to the bottom again.
Blackburn still had a tight defense in front of the goal.
Right back Todd and Cassano kept a distance of one body.
The Barry boy pulled the ball with his left and right feet continuously.
Then suddenly he kicked high, inverted triangle, half-high ball, and sent the ball to the middle of the penalty area.
That position!
Su Fei blocked Pedersen.
He raised his right foot and kicked the bottom of the football.
Football.
A brilliant rainbow arc was drawn in the air.
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