SWR: Chapter 743/745

Chapter 743: The Center Forward Most Suited for Barcelona Is in Manchester City

"Gao Shen really is the best coach in the world at dealing with Barcelona!"

In the stands of Wembley Stadium, several legendary managers—including Ferguson, Wenger, and Sacchi—were seated in the chairman's area by invitation, watching the game unfold below. Manchester City's two consecutive rapid counterattacks, nearly resulting in goals, had left them both surprised and regretful.

Had they taken their chances, City could already be leading 2–0.

But Manchester City was still a relatively young side and lacked composure in key moments.

From a tactical and technical standpoint, the well-crafted strategies had completely restrained Barcelona.

"The stronger they are, the more vulnerable they become. Gao Shen has always followed this principle," Wenger said with admiration in his eyes.

Manchester City certainly had the strength, but in terms of tactical sophistication, there was probably no other team besides them that could compete with Barcelona on equal footing, or even pose a greater threat.

Mourinho's Real Madrid had been repeatedly dismantled by Barcelona, and not in a good way.

Manchester City might be trailing in ball possession, but the overall situation wasn't bad. They had even won the ball back several times and, under Barça's pressure, delivered some thrilling one-touch football.

As for trying to compete with Barcelona for possession, Gao Shen wasn't foolish enough for that.

"Everyone talks about Manchester City's attack, but they all underestimate their defense. Just look at this game—defensive shape, player positioning, and coordination between the lines. I'm afraid no other Premier League team can match this," Sacchi said frankly, as a retired Italian coach with no affiliations.

Ferguson and Wenger both furrowed their brows but didn't argue.

The truth was, none of their teams could defend like this.

In midfield, Javi Martínez and Rakitic were crucial.

Ferguson was especially envious of Rakitic.

This kid was so well-rounded—excellent in both attack and defense.

"Barcelona's in trouble now. If they keep playing like this, City might score again. You can't expect them to miss chances forever. But if they change things up, it could cause chaos and increase the risk," Wenger said with a shake of his head.

He sighed deeply after speaking.

The lineup and tactical system that Gao Shen had built at Manchester City were remarkably complete and multidimensional.

They had pace, technique, ball control, passing, cutting, counterattacking, and even defensive balance.

From front to back, it was seamless.

Barcelona, on the other hand, was stuck.

Their refined passing and control had hit a wall, and they kept running into it.

But the problem was, Agüero wasn't a battering ram.

In fact, some people had already raised concerns when Barcelona signed Agüero.

It was understandable that they let go of Eto'o, but buying Agüero meant doubling down on their possession-based play. In critical matches, though, who would break down a defense?

Even against Real Madrid this season, Barça had run into similar problems.

Madrid had played passively, with Mourinho setting up a deep block that smothered Barcelona's buildup and forced both sides into drastic tactical shifts.

That's why Mourinho once said, "Barcelona can't win unless Real Madrid gets a red card."

Now, Gao Shen was using a disciplined, compact defensive structure to contain Barcelona, while still looking strong on the pitch. That was truly remarkable.

Just as they were speaking, the game changed again.

…

In the 14th minute, Manchester City launched another attack down the right.

Lichtsteiner once again pushed further forward than Robben, but this time had no option and played the ball back.

Robben controlled it near the halfway line, with no defenders around him for a moment.

By the time Iniesta rushed over, Robben had already adjusted. He pulled the ball with his left foot, just about evaded Iniesta, and sent a long diagonal pass.

It was a deep, sweeping ball from the right side of the halfway line to the area outside the left edge of the penalty box.

Gareth Bale turned and chested the ball down. Alves immediately closed in, but the Welshman played it back to David Silva.

The Spanish midfielder stopped the ball and, before Xavi could get close, lobbed a pass with his left foot toward the penalty spot.

At some point, Suárez had already established position inside the box. He used his body to block Piqué, back to goal and slightly to the right, then used his chest to control the ball to the left of the penalty spot.

Without letting it touch the ground, Suárez turned and volleyed it straight into the air.

The whole move—from chest control to turn and shot—was smooth and seamless. Piqué reacted too late and could only watch as the ball flew into the net.

Valdés had been guarding the left side, wary of Bale. When the ball went to Suárez, he shifted to the middle. But Suárez's move was too quick and too sudden. By the time Valdés dived, the ball was already in.

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!"

"LUIS SUÁREZ!!!"

"Manchester City!! They've scored!!!"

Suárez sprinted to the sideline in celebration.

The entire Wembley Stadium exploded in deafening cheers.

City fans shouted Suárez's name, going wild.

The Uruguayan forward rushed to the touchline, embracing teammates who came flying toward him to celebrate the opener.

"Another Manchester City attack, once again shifting from right to left."

"Robben's pass was perfect, Bale's control was excellent, and David Silva's run was timed beautifully. City's entire attacking move was full of rhythm and movement, leaving Barça's defense struggling to respond."

"This was City's third shot of the match. After missing two golden chances earlier, they've finally converted. One-nil!"

…

When Gao Shen saw Suárez chest the ball down, turn, and volley it in, he threw both fists into the air in triumph.

This kid always scored in weird or unexpected ways.

But that's exactly why he could produce goals even when it seemed like there was no chance at all.

Robben's pass had been the key.

In fact, it was similar to Barcelona's ball-switching moves. But unlike Barça, who insisted on short passes to shift play, Gao Shen wasn't afraid to go long.

If the opportunity was there, he went for it.

Not just across the flanks, but even from center backs and holding midfielders—long passes were always part of the plan.

That gave City a more three-dimensional attack, unlike Barcelona's obsession with intricate ground play.

There was no doubt about Agüero's quality, but in key battles, his impact as a central striker was limited.

On the other hand, someone like Suárez wasn't fazed at all by defenders like Piqué or Thiago Motta.

That was why Gao Shen had always believed that the center forward most suited to Guardiola's Barcelona was Luis Suárez.

Not Ibrahimović. Not Lewandowski.

Too tall, and those long legs slowed them down. Suárez, on the other hand, had the perfect height. He had technique, creativity, and flair—able to spark chemistry with Messi. He could play with his back to goal, press aggressively, and combine artistry with gritty, dirty work.

Who else could play that kind of all-around role?

But unfortunately for Barcelona, this center forward was now playing for Manchester City.

The front three of Bale, Suárez, and Robben that Gao Shen built might not be as iconic as the MSN trio, but it was already strong enough—arguably the most fearsome attacking trident in world football today.

Not to mention that players like Hazard, Van Persie, Sturridge, and Robinho were still on the bench.

As for Real Madrid, they had Benzema, Higuaín, Ronaldo, and Di María. But they hadn't fully clicked yet.

And now, Gao Shen's choices were once again proving to be correct on the pitch.

The front line of Sánchez, Agüero, and Messi had great firepower, but lacked the ability to truly break defenses down.

…

After conceding the first goal, Barcelona began to slow the game down.

Guardiola clearly became more cautious. If they continued playing like they had at the start, City might find another opening.

With the early lead, Manchester City settled into their rhythm and started executing their tactics with greater discipline.

It wasn't until the 23rd minute that Barcelona registered their first shot.

But after that, they launched a wave of attacks.

Gao Shen had anticipated this and had Manchester City well-prepared. The team remained composed and solid.

It was only at this point that everyone realized City could also shift to a 4-5-1, with Bale and Robben functioning as traditional wingers.

That came as a big surprise.

Gao Shen really had full control over Manchester City's tactical system. No matter how Barcelona passed and moved, there were always two defensive lines in front of Xavi and Iniesta.

Suárez was pressing Busquets up top.

And as soon as Barcelona's front three received the ball, they were immediately surrounded and closed down.

Especially Messi, who found it almost impossible to get on the ball.

"Xavi takes a long-range shot, but it flies over the bar."

"Barcelona's attack still hasn't broken through City's defense. They need to come up with something more effective."

"Now that City have the lead, they've grown more composed. Even with just 35% possession, Barcelona don't dare press too high for fear of getting hit on the break."

"That's the biggest dilemma for Barcelona at the moment."

"Perhaps Guardiola needs to adjust his tactics, at least to get the midfield distributing the ball more effectively."

"If not, they'll struggle to break City down."

"We're approaching stoppage time at the end of the first half."

"City are pressing the ball, but Barcelona are moving it well."

"If nothing unexpected happens, the first half will end with Manchester City leading by a goal."

"But the second half will be the ultimate showdown!"

(To be continued.)

Chapter 744: Passes to Robben Three Seconds Later

"Messi, drop back."

"Xavi passes to Messi, who plays it to Iniesta."

"Messi turns to receive it and is double-teamed by two Manchester City defenders."

"Messi dribbles forward, and David Silva and Rakitic can't stop him."

"He's still going, Messi!!!"

"He slips a through ball along the ground…"

"Sánchez bursts in from behind…"

"No whistle!!!!"

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!"

"In the 57th minute, twelve minutes into the second half, Barcelona equalizes!"

"Messi's dribble through the middle opened up the attack and created the opportunity!"

"Oh my goodness, Barcelona finally levels the score!"

"One to one!"

"Both teams are back on level terms."

"After their tactical adjustments at halftime, Barcelona's overall playstyle is noticeably different from the first half."

"Messi has moved to the center and gained more freedom. Agüero has shifted to the left and Sánchez to the right. They look like wingers, but when Messi drops deep, they play more like inside forwards."

"I must say, Guardiola's adjustments were spot on."

"Before the match, he said he was facing his master's protégé, Gao Shen. In their first encounter, he suffered a heavy 0–4 defeat. Now, two years later, he's clearly showing his growth and evolution."

"And now, he's finally breached Manchester City's goal!"

"Just look at this play. Messi's through ball was perfectly timed and angled. It landed just behind David Luiz and Kompany. Sánchez sprinted in behind Luiz and fired a clean shot!"

"Absolutely brilliant!"

"This is Barça!"

"When you think Guardiola's side is out of ideas, they'll suddenly create a killer chance from nowhere."

"Messi's dribble before the pass was also key. He completely disrupted City's midfield structure. This is the brilliance of the world's best player."

"One to one. Now let's see how Gao Shen responds!"

…

Inside Wembley Stadium, Barcelona fans erupted in deafening cheers.

One to one!

In the second half, Barcelona not only dominated possession but also showed clear momentum on the pitch, even pinning City back at times. This shift came after Guardiola's tactical tweaks.

It was still a 4-3-3, but with positional changes.

Messi returned to a central role, switching between striker, attacking midfielder, and even central midfield.

He operated in this entire vertical corridor, responsible for orchestrating the attack and linking up play.

This highlighted just how critical Messi was to Barcelona's setup.

Agüero and Sánchez were active down the flanks.

When Messi pushed forward, they stayed wide as wingers. When he dropped deeper, they moved inside, functioning as a forward pair.

At the same time, both full-backs pushed up high.

This style wasn't entirely new for Barça, but it wasn't often used.

With Messi at the heart of it, the fluidity and creativity in the midfield and final third improved significantly. The equalizing goal was a textbook example—Messi dribbling through tight spaces to unlock the defense.

Naturally, this put immense pressure on Manchester City's backline.

Gao Shen, standing on the sidelines, saw everything clearly.

Guardiola had turned Messi into a false nine, maximizing his mobility and playmaking. This avoided the situation from the first half, where City boxed him in on the right flank with a tight marking system.

But it also came with risks.

Mainly, it left more space in the midfield and back line.

Think about it—if Messi drops deep and Agüero and Sánchez push high, should defenders follow?

"I guess this is what Guardiola was struggling with before the game," Gao Shen muttered to himself.

Knowing Guardiola as he did, Gao Shen figured his opponent had hesitated over which of the two tactical approaches to choose.

Had Messi started as a false nine from kickoff, it might've surprised Gao Shen. He might even have conceded first.

Of course, he had prepared for it. Barcelona had only used this shape twice this season, and he'd studied those two matches thoroughly.

The attack was strong, but the defense was leaky.

With that in mind, Gao Shen stepped to the technical area and called over Javi Martínez, Kompany, and Rakitic, signaling for a return to the 4-3-3.

To counter Barça's attacking setup, City's full-backs tucked inside, allowing the wingers to patrol the flanks.

…

The goal of Gao Shen's adjustment was to overload the central zones and once again disrupt Barcelona's midfield combinations.

Especially the link among Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, and Busquets sitting deeper.

As long as the central channel was blocked, Messi's influence could be limited.

As for the wide players, when Messi dropped back and Agüero and Sánchez cut into the box, they were still within City's defensive coverage. The real danger came when Barça's full-backs overlapped and delivered crosses.

Gao Shen once again reminded Kompany, David Luiz, and Javi Martínez to stay tight in the middle and control the penalty area.

As expected, following City's adjustments, Barça attempted to play through the middle several times but failed to break through.

Messi dropped deep and drove the ball into City's 30-meter zone, but was brought down by Javi Martínez.

The City midfielder wasn't booked, which annoyed several Barça players.

But in truth, there wasn't much contact.

Their frustration stemmed more from how difficult it had become to break down City's defense.

Three minutes later, Barcelona passed into the box again.

Alves made a run down the right and received the ball near the front third. He attempted a diagonal ball toward Agüero at the far post, but Neuer charged out and claimed it cleanly.

Two minutes later, Vargas delivered a cross from the left. Sánchez reached it, but his header went well over the bar.

After failing to penetrate centrally, Barça's full-backs pushed higher in an effort to create width and stretch City's shape.

But Manchester City stuck to their plan—tighten the middle, leave the flanks open.

…

"Hah, there's a saying in Italian football," Sacchi said from the directors' box, "No matter how strong your wing play is, you still need to go through the middle to score."

He couldn't help but laugh at the sight of Barça's crosses being cleared repeatedly. It felt even sweeter watching their attacks amount to nothing.

There was no way around it—the size mismatch was glaring.

Messi, Agüero, Sánchez, Xavi, Iniesta...

Barça's philosophy emphasized small, quick, and agile players. None of their front five stood above 1.75 meters.

The upside was obvious—superb movement, flexibility, close control. Perfect for tiki-taka.

But the downside was also clear—when it came to long balls or aerial crosses, they had no target.

This was the dilemma Barça faced now.

As long as City controlled the center, Barça could pass all they wanted out wide.

Some might wonder: isn't there any other solution?

Actually, there is.

No system is flawless.

Against City's shape, Barcelona could work the flanks, reach the byline, and cut back into the box.

But to do that, the full-backs had to get more involved in advanced areas.

In the 68th minute, eleven minutes after conceding, Barcelona first tried attacking from the left but failed to break through. Instead of crossing, they looked to pass inside.

Messi made two consecutive dribbles but couldn't open a gap and had to play it back to Xavi.

Xavi switched it to the right, where Alves advanced and linked up with Sánchez just outside City's box. This put pressure on Filipe, and even Bale and Suárez dropped back to help.

But that attack broke down. When the ball came back to Xavi, David Silva stepped up and intercepted.

Xavi tried to recover by playing it back to Alves, but Bale beat him to it and laid it off to Suárez before sprinting forward.

Suárez knew exactly what Bale wanted. With his back to Busquets, he one-touched the ball forward without even turning.

Bale surged ahead, beat Alves to the ball, poked it across the halfway line, and looked up.

He saw Robben already sprinting through the center.

Without hesitation, Bale used his left foot to send a diagonal ball behind Barça's defense.

Robben, arriving three seconds later, collected it cleanly before Thiago Motta.

He was already inside the box.

Robben didn't stop the ball. He controlled it, faked a shot, shook off Thiago Motta, and drove a low shot with his left foot.

Valdés had positioned himself toward the left, but Robben's shot went right. The keeper was left helpless.

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!"

"Robben! Arjen Robben!!!"

"Manchester City score again!!!"

"Two to one!"

"Manchester City's counterattack was lightning-quick. Barça's defense had no time to respond!"

"From interception to counter, City executed every step smoothly. Barça's defenders never had a chance to get set."

"Bale, Suárez, and Robben—what a front three!"

"The momentum has shifted once again!"

"Guardiola's halftime adjustments initially put City on the back foot, but Gao Shen responded swiftly, restored order, and struck back with a devastating counterattack."

"It's clear that Manchester City had a plan for every possible situation, and Gao Shen came thoroughly prepared for Barça's tactics."

"City lead again. Now, the timing couldn't be worse for Barcelona."

"They're running out of time."

(To be continued.)

Chapter 745: Has Broken Your Defense

"It's another wide attack from Barcelona."

"Pedro, who came on as a substitute, receives the ball on the left and plays it to Agüero, who tries to thread it into the box."

"Kompany blocks the pass, but Barça still regain possession."

"Look at this—Iniesta gets the ball and curls a cross to the far post."

"Neuer charges out and grabs it first!"

"Sánchez is frustrated. He thinks the cross was too close to the goalkeeper."

"But you have to admit, Neuer's control of the area is exceptional."

"Manchester City launch a quick counterattack."

"Neuer boots it straight into the attacking third…"

…

When Manchester City scored their second goal, Barcelona responded with bold changes.

Guardiola subbed off Thiago Motta and brought on Pedro, shifting Busquets and Piqué into a double centre-back pairing.

Up front, it became a four-man attack: Pedro, Agüero, Messi, and Sánchez, with Iniesta and Xavi operating in midfield.

It was the classic "burning the boats" move.

But this aggressive setup also left them vulnerable. As soon as Neuer's kick reached the front line, Suárez pulled wide to the left, read the ball's trajectory perfectly, used his body to shield Busquets, controlled it with his chest, and quickly knocked it back to David Silva before spinning forward.

Barça knew the risk of these substitutions and worked hard to recover defensively. Everyone tracked back quickly.

Xavi in particular stepped in front of David Silva immediately, trying to block the connection between City's midfield and the front three.

With no clear path, David Silva passed to Rakitic.

Rakitic attempted to spread play to the right, but Vargas had already tracked back quickly. City's right flank failed to develop, so Robben cut inside and played it back.

Barcelona pressed hard in midfield, but Manchester City calmly passed around the pressure and quickly switched to the left.

David Luiz stepped up, advanced a few meters, and spotted Robben drifting into space between the lines. He played a sharp pass to the Dutchman's feet.

Robben received, turned, and clipped a diagonal ball with his left foot into the left side of the box.

Suárez controlled it, faked a drive to the byline, tricked Busquets into overcommitting, then cut back and lofted a cross with his right foot toward the far post.

No one knew exactly when Gareth Bale had arrived, but he was already in the right place. Using the momentum of his run, he leapt and met the ball with a powerful header before Valdés could react.

Suárez's cross found Bale perfectly, and the Welshman headed it into the right corner of Barcelona's goal.

Piqué raised his hand, appealing for offside.

But referee Viktor Kassai waved play on—Piqué had played Bale onside.

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!"

"Three to one!"

"In the 83rd minute, Manchester City strike again!"

"Gareth Bale with a close-range header!"

"Oh my, Manchester City's counterattacks have been razor-sharp tonight, and Barça's defensive problems continue to be exposed."

"While we admire Guardiola's courage and boldness with his substitutions, taking off Thiago Motta and bringing on Pedro hasn't helped defensively. In fact, it's made things worse."

…

"It's almost over," Ferguson sighed from the chairman's box.

When the clock hit the 84th minute and Gao Shen brought on Yaya Touré for David Silva, the entire Manchester City section at Wembley rose in applause.

The Spanish midfielder had delivered an outstanding performance.

Watching the substitution, Ferguson and the others realized it was over.

Judging by the flow of the second half, Barcelona had failed to come up with a viable solution to counter Manchester City's adjustments.

Otherwise, Guardiola wouldn't have gambled by replacing Motta with Pedro.

That halftime formation switch had initially looked promising, but in the end, the substitution had failed to change the outcome.

Gao Shen's tactical control had restrained Guardiola—not just in pre-match prep, but also in in-game adjustments.

Wenger, watching it all unfold, was in high spirits. Seeing Ferguson's gloomy face only added to his amusement.

"I honestly didn't expect it, building a treble-winning team in just two years. And not just any treble-winning team, but one that dominates like this. And now, he has just won his third Champions League…"

Wenger stopped mid-sentence and laughed.

Ferguson's face darkened. "If you have something to say, say it. No need to get sarcastic."

"Who's being sarcastic? I'm praising him!" Wenger said cheerfully.

"You call that praise?" Ferguson grumbled.

Damn that Frenchman.

"If I'm not praising him, am I insulting him? Am I insulting him for winning a treble that some managers dream of their whole life? Or am I insulting him for winning a third Champions League, something others will never achieve?"

Wenger was having a great time.

Sure, he wasn't feeling great. But he wasn't going to let Ferguson off easy either.

Ferguson finally realized—Wenger was deliberately winding him up.

"Fine. I consider winning a treble the pride of my career. Better than those who've never won one. Oh right, some managers haven't even won a single Champions League. That's tragic. I've got two. I look at them every day and open another bottle of wine."

After a pause, before Wenger could reply, Ferguson added, "Wait a minute. City are unbeaten this season. Treble winners. But why can't someone else be unbeaten? Who holds the record for the worst unbeaten champions in history?"

Wenger was instantly speechless.

True. He still didn't have a Champions League title.

And it was all because of that damn Gao Shen!

If he hadn't taken over Real Madrid, I might've had a shot at the Champions League.

And that "invincible" season... I...

Wenger trailed off and stared at Ferguson in silence.

Ferguson met his gaze. The two old rivals who had clashed for over a decade now felt an odd sense of sympathy. For a moment, they even felt like banding together in shared frustration.

It was all Gao Shen's fault!

…

The last threatening attack of the game came in the 92nd minute.

Xavi slid a through ball into Messi's path. The Argentine beat two Manchester City defenders and let fly with his left foot toward the bottom-right corner.

But Neuer flew across and made a brilliant save, pushing it wide.

Barcelona failed to create anything from the ensuing corner.

By this point, even Barça's players had accepted defeat.

If Messi had scored, they might've had a sliver of hope. But it didn't go in.

Gao Shen made his final change, subbing off Robben for De Bruyne.

Everyone knew how highly the club rated the young Belgian.

Bringing him on in the closing moments of a Champions League final, even during stoppage time, was a clear show of trust and encouragement.

City fans welcomed him with loud cheers.

Robben, coming off, gave him a pat of support, then walked to the dugout, hugged Gao Shen, and waved to the fans. He had been one of the best players on the pitch—one of the hardest-working too.

This was Robben's first Champions League title.

…

"Congratulations."

As soon as referee Kassai blew the final whistle, Guardiola walked straight to Gao Shen, embraced him, and congratulated him on winning his third Champions League title as a coach.

Gao Shen thanked him.

The two stood side by side at the touchline, watching the contrasting emotions of their players, each with a complex expression.

Guardiola's was one of bitterness. Three consecutive Champions League finals—only one win. And two losses to Gao Shen. That was hard to take.

But he had to admit, there was no better way to deal with Manchester City tonight.

Barcelona had thrown everything they had. But City's defense was airtight, and whenever they won the ball back, they calmly played through Barça's press and launched lethal counters.

It was terrifying.

Even worse, Manchester City's front three had incredible individual ability.

"If you'd used your second-half tactics from the start, the game might've gone differently," Gao Shen offered, trying to comfort him.

It would have caught him off guard.

Then again, he had prepared for that possibility too. Unless Barça struck early, the result likely wouldn't have changed.

"You know," Guardiola said, "last night during our staff meeting, I wanted to start Messi centrally. The others said it was too risky. I insisted. But after midnight, I saw your tweet, and I started to doubt myself."

By the end, even Guardiola found it funny.

"Remember? You once told me—when in doubt, trust your instincts."

"But when it's about you, I just can't trust mine."

Gao Shen burst out laughing.

Guardiola's words meant more than the trophy. They were recognition—and that made him truly happy.

"Actually, I guessed you'd be torn. I watched a lot of your games. I figured you were weighing those two systems."

"So that tweet…"

"I wasn't saying anything special. Just wanted you to relax and get some sleep," Gao Shen said with a straight face.

Guardiola slapped his own forehead, pointed at himself, then at Gao Shen, completely at a loss for words.

"What?" Gao Shen asked, looking innocent.

"It's fine, it's fine." Guardiola waved him off. "I'm blocking you on Twitter when I get back!"

Now it was Gao Shen's turn to be stunned.

(To be continued.)