SWR: Chapter 723/724

Chapter 723: Vow to Win the Treble
"Manchester City are passing skillfully. Manchester United can't win the ball back in midfield."

"The ball is played back to the defense, to David Luiz."

"The City center-back pushes forward, controls it, and sends a long diagonal ball."

"Beautiful! The right flank is open!"

Lichtsteiner had already surged into United's 30-meter area, hugging the right touchline. He glanced at David Luiz's long ball, positioned himself, chested it down, and quickly brought it under control.

Park Ji-sung charged at him immediately, but before he could close in, the Swiss full-back exploded toward the byline, tricking Park into committing early.

Lichtsteiner suddenly stopped and cut the ball horizontally to Robben, just outside the penalty area.

Suárez sprinted over to support, looking to play a one-two with Robben inside the box. But when Suárez returned the ball, Carrick, who had recovered quickly, cut it out and cleared it outside the area.

Rakitic rushed up to shoot, but Lass Diarra slid in and blocked the shot. The ball, however, stayed inside the box.

Chaos erupted in United's penalty area.

Robben was first to the ball but was forced wide. At the edge of the penalty area, without being closed down immediately, the Dutch winger turned, only to see Vidic closing him down fast.

"Here!" Lichtsteiner shouted, raising his hand on the right side of the box.

Robben passed instantly.

Lichtsteiner stopped it, pushed forward, glanced into the area, saw Suárez's movement, and after a quick pause, chased the ball forward and whipped in a half-height cross.

The ball flew past Evra and dropped just behind United's backline at the edge of the six-yard box.

Suárez broke away from the crowd and, just ahead of Ferdinand, got to Lichtsteiner's cross first.

He struck it cleanly.

The ball changed direction and flew toward the right side of United's goal at a speed too quick for the naked eye.

Van der Sar was stationed near the center of goal but had no time to react to the close-range shot.

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!"

"In the 24th minute, Manchester City strike first!"

"Luís Suárez scores from close range to give City the lead!"

The entire Etihad Stadium erupted!

All the Manchester City fans leapt from their seats, wildly cheering for Suárez.

The Uruguayan striker spun around, sprinted to the corner flag, and slid to his knees in front of the stands, sending the crowd into an absolute frenzy.

The rest of the City players followed, surrounding him and celebrating this crucial goal together.

"This is Manchester City's first time entering United's penalty area tonight!"

"This was also City's first real attacking sequence of the match—and they scored!"

"This is the power of star players!"

"They can be marked, shut down, harassed, even fouled. But give them a single chance, and they'll show deadly instinct!"

"It may look like a tiny gap, but it's fatal!"

"Manchester City's players are undoubtedly becoming, or have already become, world-class stars."

…

The entire stadium was filled with Manchester City fans' cheers.

Ferguson stood in front of the away team's technical area, his expression serious and grim.

He had anticipated conceding first, but that didn't make it any easier to accept.

The whole point of starting the match so aggressively was to avoid conceding early.

But it still happened.

Not as skilled as the opponent!

Ferguson couldn't argue with that.

Manchester United had pinned City deep in their half, even sacrificing fitness. And while that worked well, they never posed a real threat in front of goal.

Javi Martínez, the Spanish midfielder, was strong and outstanding.

Ferguson had once tried to sign him, but City beat him to it. Now, he deeply regretted it.

"We didn't press well enough. Robben was able to turn around just outside the penalty area. That shouldn't happen," Mike Phelan said, clearly frustrated with the players' execution.

Ferguson glanced at his assistant, shook his head, and sighed inwardly. He wasn't even close to Queiroz.

Queiroz had excellent training ability, great tactical insight, and sharp vision. He had been Ferguson's right-hand man in every respect. Now, his former role was split in two, and neither man measured up.

But what could he do?

The Portuguese had gone solo.

"It's not hard to press tightly," Ferguson said flatly. "But once you do, what do you do if they shake you off?"

Phelan was left speechless.

David Silva, Robben, Rakitic, Suárez...

Which of City's midfield and attacking players didn't have elite footwork and dribbling ability?

Closing them down was easy. Staying with them after they got past you? That's where it hurts.

So how do you decide whether to close them down?

In many moments, players must make split-second choices. You can't expect them to always make the right one. That's unrealistic, players aren't machines.

If a coach doesn't leave room for mistakes and always expects the optimal solution, then the team is doomed.

"There's no other way?" Phelan asked, trying to recover.

"How could there not be?" Ferguson replied with a wry smile. "If our overall strength surpassed theirs, we could suppress them—whether through possession, fitness, or pressing…"

But in reality, United trailed City in all those aspects.

Even in fitness.

Statistics showed that in this season's Premier League and Champions League, Manchester City were the fastest-running team—even quicker than Barcelona.

Gao Shen's two fitness coaches were absolute gems.

Too bad Ferguson couldn't poach them.

No need to now.

…

After conceding, United finally dropped back.

Ferguson understood well that if they continued pushing, United's players would burn out fast. And once the legs went, they'd lose even more possession. At that point, they might collapse entirely.

Since they'd conceded first, there was nothing more to say. Settle down and wait for a counterattack.

That was the smartest play for United against City.

As much as people might hate to admit it, City were now stronger than United.

When United held a compact shape and defended well, City didn't dare to go all out.

Gao Shen had seen firsthand how threatening Valencia and Rooney could be on the counter.

So the match dynamic shifted again.

City slowed the tempo, controlled possession, and played methodically.

United sat deep, defended with patience, and waited to pounce on any counter opportunity.

Both sides became cautious and left little space for the other.

This was the Champions League knockout stage at its finest.

There are no big names in the semifinals, and even less room for mistakes.

You had to admit, United's offensive lineup wasn't that dangerous. But defensively, especially in midfield and at the back, plus their counter-passing, they were still solid.

Lass Diarra had improved the midfield's defensive cover, and Sneijder was doing well both ways.

As a result, the game hit a stalemate.

In the remaining 20 minutes of the first half, the most dangerous moment came from a Gareth Bale free kick. It skimmed the crossbar and left the United defense sweating.

The Welshman not only had deadly scoring from his "Bale zone," but he also possessed speed, power, and top-level free-kick ability.

…

The first half ended 1–0. Manchester City had the lead.

During the break, Gao Shen praised the team's performance and encouraged them to stay sharp, especially in the second half.

"In the first 20 minutes, they pushed us hard and used up a lot of energy."

"We'll try a strong push early in the second half, then slow it down. But be careful. Don't let them hit us on the break or steal the tower. Otherwise, we'll gain nothing and lose everything."

The players didn't fully understand the metaphor, but it still sounded impactful.

The meaning was clear.

"In the second half, we'll wear them down. Time is on our side."

"Unless there's an injury, I won't make substitutions before the 85th minute. I believe you'll land the fatal blow when they're physically exhausted."

Gao Shen's trust fired up the team.

If they could win the Champions League after securing the Premier League title, that would be the Double. And if they could beat United again and win the FA Cup, it would be the Treble!

Over the years, wasn't it United's 1999 Treble that Ferguson was most proud of? The same Treble that United fans boasted about in Premier League history?

If Manchester City could win all three titles this season, it would be the strongest statement ever against their local rivals.

"Everyone!" Gao Shen clapped hard, and the players stood up and gathered around him.

"A 1–0 lead isn't safe. It's not enough to guarantee a place in the final. I want you to keep pushing and try to score again in the second half."

"I know it's difficult, but I believe in you!"

Gao Shen's affirmation lifted the players' spirits.

And when he stood at the locker room door, hugging each of them as they walked out, their faces were full of determination.

"Boss, don't worry. Leave it to us!"

"We won't let you down, Boss!"

"Believe in us. We'll make it to the final!"

"Get ready to celebrate, Boss!"

"Boss, we'll win you the Treble as a wedding gift!"

…

One by one, the players walked out with their own words for Gao Shen.

But from their voices and expressions, he could feel both their respect and their love.

He was very satisfied.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 724: Blind Spot

Manchester City attacked down the right once more.

Lichtsteiner made an overlapping run and linked up with Robben, pushing deep toward Manchester United's byline.

But the Red Devils' defense recovered quickly and left no space behind.

The two City players tried to break through but failed and were forced to pass back to Rakitic outside the box to reorganize.

The Croatian midfielder settled the ball, paused briefly, and didn't switch play immediately. When he saw Robben and Lichtsteiner retreat to onside positions, he quickly delivered a straight pass to Robben's feet.

With his back to goal, Robben received the ball, but Carrick stuck close and wouldn't let him turn, so he passed it back out to Lichtsteiner on the touchline.

Manchester United's defense shifted toward that side.

Even Suárez drifted to the right, looking ready to overload and force a breakthrough down the flank.

It was now the 79th minute.

The score was still 1–0.

As United's stamina declined, they continued to fall behind on the pitch.

Ferguson had already made a substitution, bringing on Smalling for Fabio to strengthen the defense on the right.

A 0–1 loss away from home still left United with hope for the return leg at Old Trafford.

Ferguson's approach was now more pragmatic. After defending for nearly 80 minutes, he seemed ready to accept the 0–1 result.

But Manchester City weren't willing to settle.

Lichtsteiner sensed the shift in United's defensive focus. With his back to the sideline, he stepped back twice to draw United's defense out, then passed the ball back to Rakitic.

Rakitic, now stationed on the right, received the ball, glanced left, and launched a long cross-field switch.

The ball sailed across the pitch, from the right edge of the penalty area to the left.

Gareth Bale hugged the left touchline and brought it down with his left foot.

As soon as he controlled it, he saw Smalling charging toward him.

Fabio was quick, and Bale hadn't been that active down the left today.

But against Smalling, Bale believed he had the edge in speed and explosiveness.

Before Smalling got close, Bale feinted toward the top corner of the box, then suddenly pushed toward the byline. With a rapid step, he shook Smalling off.

Bale caught up with the ball and cut into the box from the left.

Just as he reached his famed "Bale Zone," Ferdinand stepped up to block him like an immovable wall.

The Welshman made a quick decision, swung his left foot, and crossed the ball.

Suárez, arriving in the middle of the penalty area, shot instantly, but Vidic slid in and blocked the attempt.

The ball deflected off Vidic's leg, bounced back, and landed on the right edge of the box.

Robben, who had just been on the corner of the area, now rushed forward, shifted his left foot to avoid Carrick, and struck again with his left.

The ball curled beautifully toward the top-left corner of the goal.

Van der Sar, leaning right, saw Robben strike and dove left to save it.

But he was still half a step too late.

The ball flew into the top corner.

Blind spot!

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!"

"In the 79th minute, Robben scores again for Manchester City!!!"

"An unstoppable shot into the blind spot!"

"From Arjen Robben!"

Robben sprinted to the sideline in celebration, running full speed before sliding to his knees in front of the home fans.

The coaching staff had told him to avoid knee slides, but he just couldn't help himself.

The other City players caught up quickly and surrounded him.

Kompany and Rakitic rushed to pull Robben up, afraid that their strategic weapon might get injured again.

He was one of Manchester City's best players this season.

"Robben's goal is massive!"

"2–0! Manchester City now hold a huge advantage!"

"Ferguson looked visibly disappointed after the goal—and understandably so."

"A 0–1 loss was still manageable at Old Trafford, but 0–2 is a heavy blow. Scoring at least two goals against City at home will be a real challenge."

…

Gao Shen shouted with excitement from the touchline.

The noise from the stands drowned out his voice completely, but he didn't care.

2–0!

That scoreline was everything for Manchester City.

In fact, it was practically the knockout blow.

If they could hold this result and prepare well for the second leg at Old Trafford, they'd have one foot in the final.

An overwhelming sense of pride surged in Gao Shen's chest.

He had already led Real Madrid and Napoli to Champions League glory. If he could reach the final again and win another title, that would make three. He'd become the only active head coach with three Champions League titles.

Even in Champions League history, only Liverpool legend Bob Paisley had done it.

But Paisley's three titles all came during Liverpool's golden era.

Gao Shen, on the other hand, would've won his three with three different clubs.

That would be unprecedented.

The thought made Gao Shen giddy. He stepped to the sideline and signaled for the players to keep pushing.

"Keep attacking! I want to see a third goal!"

Gao Shen didn't hide his ambition, roaring from the technical area.

Players nearby could hear him clearly—and so could Ferguson in the away dugout.

The old Scot turned his head and looked at Gao Shen, as if to say: Are you serious? Do you think I'm already dead?

Are we still going to have that drink or not?

…

Play resumed.

Many thought United would launch a desperate push to salvage a goal.

Ferguson did make a change, bringing on Nani for Park Ji-sung.

But what followed shocked everyone.

Manchester City, already up by two, didn't back off at all. Instead, they launched wave after wave of attacks against Manchester United.

Gareth Bale, in particular, was relentless on the left.

City knew all too well how determined and dangerous Bale was. In possession, they funneled the attack through him, repeatedly sending him against Smalling.

Even after 80 minutes, Bale's speed and explosiveness were still electric.

Poor Smalling, fresh off the bench and supposedly with a fitness advantage, was completely turned into a training cone. Bale torched him again and again.

In the 86th minute, Smalling had no choice but to pull Bale back. He was promptly shown a yellow card, gifting City a free-kick.

Ferguson raged on the sideline, yelling furiously at Smalling.

The flustered English defender glanced at Bale, then at Ferguson, utterly lost. He looked like he was about to cry.

City's free-kick landed perfectly at the edge of the box. Kompany's header crashed off the crossbar, and David Luiz's follow-up was smothered by Van der Sar.

Those final minutes felt like an eternity for United.

Manchester City kept coming.

What frustrated Ferguson even more was that Gao Shen hadn't made a single substitution the entire match.

It was absurd!

Truly... absurd!

…

Amid Ferguson's fuming, the referee finally blew the full-time whistle.

2–0. Manchester City defeated Manchester United at home with goals from Suárez and Robben, winning the first leg of the Champions League semi-final.

This was the first semi-final of the Champions League this season.

Tomorrow, Napoli would face Barcelona at the San Paolo.

That match would also attract global attention.

After all, it was a rematch of the Champions League final two years ago.

Everyone was curious to see if Napoli, post-Gao Shen and after selling several stars, could still go toe-to-toe with Barcelona.

Gao Shen wasn't concerned with that now. He was ecstatic.

A 2–0 win was a massive boost heading into the second leg.

In fact, Gao Shen believed that Manchester City already had one hand on a ticket to the final.

"We should go ahead and reserve a hotel near Wembley," he said to his staff with a grin.

The coaching staff were just as thrilled, nodding in agreement.

"I'll get in touch with Wenger. Then we can use Arsenal's Colney training ground to prepare."

As he said it, Gao Shen burst out laughing.

If Wenger agreed and announced it before the second leg, Ferguson would probably lose his mind.

Damn it, the game's not over yet. Ever heard of showing some respect?

But a 2–0 home win wasn't just a solid lead. More importantly, they hadn't conceded an away goal.

If that isn't a commanding position, what is?

Gao Shen's optimism was shared by the whole staff.

They still had to be cautious in the second leg, but the momentum was clearly with Manchester City.

Bringing up Arsenal now was a sly way to get under Ferguson's skin.

Of course, if they did reach the final, such arrangements would be necessary.

Whether it was Barcelona or Napoli, they would likely arrive in London early to prepare.

And given both clubs' rivalry with Chelsea, they probably wouldn't borrow Cobham.

That meant if City locked in Colney early, it could complicate things for whoever advanced.

It was a subtle form of psychological warfare.

Besides, there were plenty of London clubs to borrow from.

But Arsenal's Colney had the clear edge, close to Wembley and equipped with top-tier facilities. It was the ideal base.

Manchester City had a good relationship with the Gunners, and Gao Shen had a good relationship with Wenger.

After all, they shared a common rival.

(To be continued.)