SWR: Chapter 617/620

Chapter 617: The Last Hope of the Premier League

"Hey, what's going on? Didn't sleep well last night?"

Before the match, when Gao Shen saw Ancelotti in the player tunnel at the Etihad Stadium, he noticed the Italian manager's bloodshot eyes and swollen eye bags—clear signs of a sleepless night.

Ancelotti shot him an irritated glare and snorted twice but didn't reply.

"Hiss, I clearly explained it before. I asked the club to tell the fan organizations that Carlo is my good friend and no one is allowed to disturb your rest. What? Someone still dared to disturb you?"

Gao Shen's performance was truly convincing!

Ancelotti scoffed inwardly: Are you really that kind-hearted?

"It's outrageous! Think about it—an old man with high blood pressure, staying up late like that? What if his blood pressure spikes and a blood vessel bursts? Who's going to be responsible?" Gao Shen said with righteous indignation.

Ancelotti instantly blew up.

Seeing his reaction, Gao Shen couldn't help but chuckle. "I thought you weren't planning to talk today."

That only made Ancelotti more furious—he laughed in spite of himself.

This guy is so shameless, it's infuriating!

"If I really didn't have anyone to play against, I wouldn't bother with you!" Ancelotti grumbled.

Gao Shen didn't care. "What happened? You didn't sleep last night?"

Mentioning it only made Ancelotti angrier.

It's all your fault!

"Worried? Nervous? Feeling uneasy? Am I right?" Gao Shen laughed.

This had already been part of his plan.

"Honestly, Gao, would it kill you to not be annoying for once?" Ancelotti was speechless.

"My life or death isn't the issue right now—but you definitely won't survive tonight," Gao Shen said confidently.

Ancelotti's expression froze.

Damn it, did I fall into his trap?

Last night, suspecting Gao Shen might predict his tactics, Ancelotti had made a last-minute change to his starting lineup…

"Be careful, Carlo. Don't become the next Ferguson."

With that, Gao Shen clenched his right fist and made a cheering gesture at him, making Ancelotti feel an even stronger sense of foreboding.

If it were anyone else, he might not have taken it seriously.

But Gao Shen…

This bastard is so shameless, he really could pull anything.

…

Gao Shen really hadn't expected Ancelotti to go this far.

Goalkeeper: Cech
Defense: Ashley Cole, Terry, Carvalho, Ivanovic
Midfield: Ballack dropped back, Lampard and Essien in the center, Deco in the attacking midfield
Forwards: Anelka and Drogba

It was obvious—compared to the last game against Arsenal, Ancelotti had adjusted two positions in midfield: Deco replaced Joe Cole, and Ballack came in for Mikel.

How to put it?

There were some advantages.

Overall, the changes made Chelsea's midfield more stable.

Previously, Gao Shen had analyzed Chelsea's midfield and labeled it a meat grinder—strong in physical duels but lacking in ball progression and creativity. Joe Cole, when on the pitch, acted like a lubricant, injecting vitality into the team's buildup play.

But Joe Cole had a weakness—he lacked consistency.

Ancelotti must have been aware of that.

The diamond midfield's biggest weakness lies in the flanks—especially on the attack. With offensive responsibilities falling to the full-backs, their defensive burden increases significantly, meaning the midfield must provide cover. That makes the defensive midfielder's role critical.

Mikel is an interesting player. He started his career as an attacking midfielder and once won the Silver Ball at the FIFA World Youth Championship.

Who took the Golden Ball?

Messi.

When he first appeared, Mikel was known for his skill and creativity. But over time, after transitioning roles, he became a holding midfielder. Lacking pace, he had some ability to move forward, but his defensive coverage on the flanks was weak.

And everyone knew—Manchester City's flanks were explosive, especially with their penchant for cutting inside and launching from wide areas.

There's no way Ancelotti didn't know that. So he must've been worried.

Gao Shen had originally speculated that Ancelotti would drop Lampard and Essien deeper. With the full-backs pinned back, Chelsea's offensive threat would weaken, easing Manchester City's defensive burden and allowing them to focus more on attack.

But unexpectedly, Ancelotti went for a straight substitution.

Can a 33-year-old Ballack really perform better than Mikel?

Any doubts would be answered in the match itself.

But there was one thing Gao Shen was absolutely certain of.

The current Premier League is terrible at attacking through the flanks.

Many people wondered why Ferguson kept trying to link up Berbatov and Cristiano Ronaldo, yet it never quite clicked.

The answer lies in the lack of effective wing play.

When Manchester United attacked, they often had no one supporting the flanks.

It was like that before—and it still is now.

If Ronaldo went forward alone, he was easily isolated.

And it wasn't just Manchester United—this was true for most Premier League teams.

That's why a team like Manchester City, which focused on flank attacks, was rare and thus very effective.

Against Chelsea, Gao Shen placed Hazard and Robben on the wings, while the full-backs were the extremely dangerous Gareth Bale and Zabaleta.

He kept a three-man midfield. Rakitic would drop back on defense to support Javi Martinez and help shield the back line. David Silva was tasked with putting pressure on the lone defensive midfielder—ideally forcing Essien to retreat.

Wingers would pin down the full-backs, Javi Martinez would hold off Deco, and Rakitic would assist in defense while also keeping an eye on Lampard and a dropping Anelka.

Gao Shen believed that as long as they executed this well, Manchester City could control the match.

…

Before kickoff, the Sky Sports commentators gave a special introduction to the game.

This was Manchester City's last strong opponent in the first half of the season.

In Andy Gray's words, "The entire Premier League has entrusted Chelsea with the mission to stop Manchester City!"

More importantly, Chelsea had beaten Manchester City in their past eight encounters—home and away.

So in a sense, Chelsea had the psychological advantage.

Refereeing the match was Howard Webb, which reflected how seriously the Premier League viewed the fixture.

Martin Taylor explained why Chelsea were seen as the league's last hope.

"As the media put it, tonight Terry will show Gao Shen what he lost."

As captains of the England national team, Terry and Lampard carried enormous weight and influence in the Premier League.

And Chelsea had been one of the best-performing teams this season.

"We have every reason to believe tonight's match will be a thriller."

…

With referee Howard Webb's whistle, Suarez and David Silva, standing in the center circle, quickly kicked off and passed the ball to Robben on the right.

The Dutchman controlled the ball and, without waiting for Anelka to approach, immediately played it back to Rakitic and sprinted forward.

Rakitic carried the ball forward, seizing the moment. Seeing Suarez sprinting into the open space on the right channel, he delivered a pass directly to the Uruguayan's feet.

Suarez controlled the ball on the side of his body and drove forward through the right channel.

Terry stuck close to Suarez outside the box, trying to use his strength to force the smaller forward off the ball—but surprisingly, he failed to stop him.

Not only did Suarez hold off Terry, but he also suddenly accelerated, attempting to break free using his pace.

In a panic, Terry went to ground with a sliding tackle, but Suarez, anticipating it, burst forward and broke through, reaching the top of the penalty area. Before Carvalho could close him down, Suarez got a shot off.

Cech reacted well and dove to make the save.

The Etihad Stadium immediately erupted in applause and cheers.

"Suarez's physical strength isn't as bad as it looks. I heard that since joining Manchester City, Gao Shen has put him through special training. I have to say, Terry was a little too complacent there," Andy Gray said regretfully.

"Yes, being beaten like that by an opponent—especially as a top-class center-back—Terry's performance tonight is definitely not ideal. I think it has something to do with the match's early tempo. I believe he'll settle in as the game goes on," Martin Taylor added.

As time passed, it became clear what Manchester City's tactical intent was.

Gao Shen used the wingers to suppress the full-backs and the midfielders to pin down Chelsea's midfield. On top of that, he chose to attack rather than sit back, which disrupted Chelsea's midfield and defensive buildup. Drogba and Anelka had no service up front.

Not until the 7th minute did Lampard try a through pass from outside the box, but Javi Martinez cleared it before Drogba could reach it.

A minute later, Chelsea again attempted a forward pass into the penalty area, but Neuer came off his line, racing to the penalty spot and catching the ball before Drogba could make a move.

With no presence in the final third and no real threat, Chelsea struggled, while Manchester City gradually and patiently took control of the game—especially with their midfield's passing and pressing, which put huge pressure on Chelsea's midfielders.

Only ten minutes into the game, and the momentum had already swung clearly.

Gao Shen noticed that perhaps due to Ancelotti's tactical shift or the pressure from David Silva and the wingers, Ballack had been extremely disciplined—constantly sitting in front of the back line.

Not only that, even Essien and Lampard were dropping deep to support Ballack.

Chelsea were essentially operating with three defensive midfielders.

But with this setup, their attacking options were almost non-existent.

Once Deco was locked down by Javi Martinez, the Blues tried to have Anelka drop deeper, but it hardly made a difference.

By the 15th minute, Chelsea had yet to register a shot on target—who would believe that?

But Manchester City hadn't created a clear chance either.

They weren't in a hurry.

Before the game, Gao Shen had said that this match would not only test both teams' skills and tactics—but also their resilience!

(To be continued.)

Chapter 618: Subversion of England

When Hazard tried to cut inside from the left, Ivanovic stepped up, knocked him down, and intercepted the ball.

Referee Webb didn't call a foul.

The entire Etihad Stadium erupted in boos.

Suarez quickly chased in from the side and behind, tangling with Ivanovic on the left before launching straight into the Serbian defender with force.

In terms of height, Ivanovic stood at 1.88 meters, while Suarez was only 1.82 meters, clearly at a disadvantage. Even in terms of physical strength, the Uruguayan striker had no edge.

But Suarez used brute force to crash into Ivanovic.

Leveraging the momentum from his run-up, he didn't manage to knock Ivanovic away immediately, but he did push him back a step. Suarez then reached the ball first and passed it back to Gareth Bale.

…

On the sidelines, when Gao Shen saw Suarez win the ball back, he immediately joined the 50,000 Manchester City fans in applauding the striker's counter-press.

He liked players who were aggressive and enterprising.

More importantly, Suarez's successful counter-attack was crucial for Manchester City.

It could be said that he avenged Hazard, or that he had created another attacking opportunity for City.

Chelsea began to press Gareth Bale after he crossed the halfway line, but Hazard quickly dropped back to support.

Essien, like a mad dog, charged in to win the ball. Gareth Bale had no choice but to retreat. He then spotted an opening and switched the ball centrally, bypassing Drogba and passing to Kompany, who had dropped deep.

Kompany received Bale's pass near the center circle of City's half, glanced up, and initially looked to find Javi Martinez—but noticed Deco and Anelka nearby.

The Spanish midfielder gestured to the right, signaling Kompany to play the ball into space.

The Belgian center-back quickly saw Rakitic dropping deep and delivered a pass straight into Chelsea's half, just outside the 30-yard zone.

Rakitic had dropped back halfway, controlled the ball, and turned in one fluid motion.

As soon as he turned, he was surrounded by three Chelsea players, but the Croatian midfielder's footwork was superb. He spun to the left, stopped the ball, and quickly used his left foot to pass to the unmarked David Silva.

The Spaniard turned to the right, stopped the ball with his left foot, spun to face forward, and took two steps before spotting Suarez—who had just been on the left—making a run into the right channel and signaling with his hand.

It was clear: he wanted the ball played ahead of him.

David Silva didn't hesitate and sent a through ball.

Suarez arrived just in time, darting between Carvalho and Ivanovic as they scrambled to recover. He received Silva's pass, suddenly accelerated, and drove the ball into Chelsea's box.

"A lightning counter by Manchester City!"

"David Silva delivers a brilliant through ball—Suarez charges into the box..."

"One-on-one!"

"He scores!!!!"

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!"

"Suarez stayed composed under pressure. Cech's challenge didn't faze him at all, he calmly chipped it in over the keeper!"

"Manchester City take the lead in the 42nd minute!"

"One-nil!"

After scoring, Suarez sprinted toward the corner flag, celebrating passionately and soaking in the deafening cheers from the crowd. He didn't forget to acknowledge his teammates—especially David Silva, who had supplied the perfect assist.

"That was an attack with excellent rhythm from Manchester City."

"From the counter on the left, Suarez chased back and won the ball, Gareth Bale switched play across the pitch, and at that point, Chelsea's entire defensive shape had shifted to their left."

"Everyone expected City to focus the attack on Robben's flank."

"Rakitic clearly saw this. So when he received Kompany's pass, he turned his back to the right and played it left. This flipped the direction of play. David Silva appeared in the right half-space, completely unmarked, and Suarez ran into the gap between Carvalho and Ivanovic."

"You could say Chelsea's entire backline was misled by Manchester City's movement."

"Exactly, Andy," Martin Taylor agreed. "Not only did City switch from left to right, but when Essien pressed on the left, they passed all the way back to their center-back and dropped deep. That prompted Chelsea's midfield to push forward."

"But then Rakitic dropped deep and exploited the space in the right half of Chelsea's midfield. At the same time, City's attacking tempo suddenly exploded, their passing was quick and precise."

"That's what makes this Manchester City side so frightening."

"Gao Shen once said: you have to pull your fist back so it hits harder when you punch."

"If Chelsea hadn't adjusted defensively, City likely would've attacked through Robben, letting the Dutchman take on Ashley Cole one-on-one. At that point, Robben and Suarez would've formed two diagonal threats between the lines, that's also one of City's biggest offensive trademarks."

Andy Gray nodded. "Chelsea defended solidly for over 40 minutes, but they cracked just before the break."

"Gao Shen is subverting English football!"

…

"Gao Shen is subverting English football!"

Andy Gray's voice rang out from the Match of the Day studio.

Many people didn't grasp the weight of that statement, but Lineker, Alan Hansen, and Alan Shearer—three English football legends—exchanged knowing looks and nodded in agreement.

The three presenters had all been greats in their day, representing different roles on the pitch.

Alan Hansen was a classic English center-back, Lineker a traditional speed-based striker, and Alan Shearer a prototypical center-forward.

Their differing positions shaped their unique perspectives on the game.

And now, each had his own thoughts about this formidable Manchester City side.

Though all three had once doubted and even criticized Manchester City, the Blue Moon had now won 14 straight matches. What could be more convincing than that?

They had no choice but to admit one thing: Manchester City were successful.

It was a fact not only England but the whole world could no longer deny.

So why were they successful?

Some said it was because Gao Shen had spent over £200 million building a highly competitive squad. But it's also worth noting that this season saw the rise of several previously unknown young players—like Suarez, Gareth Bale, Javi Martinez, Hazard, and Sturridge.

Others argued that it was Gao Shen's advanced tactical system that brought success. But what exactly made it "advanced"?

Football tactics are intricate, detailed, and complex. It's impossible to explain it all with a single term like "advanced."

Fans and media may see it that way but within the game, it's different.

As professionals, Lineker and the others tried to analyze Gao Shen's football through their own understanding of the game, as did Andy Gray.

That's why Andy Gray said, "Gao Shen is subverting English football."

How so?

He doesn't even use a traditional center-forward anymore!

Manchester United have Berbatov, Chelsea have Drogba, Liverpool have Torres, and Arsenal have Adebayor—each a main striker for their club. But Manchester City's main striker is Suarez.

"If it were me, there'd be no place for me in this current Manchester City squad," Alan Shearer said with a shake of his head and a sigh.

It forced him to admit—times had changed.

Traditional English strike partnerships were usually "one tall, one fast," like Heskey and Owen.

Shearer himself was the quintessential English center-forward—not particularly fast, but strong, with an excellent scoring instinct and physical presence.

When Gao Shen was at Napoli in Serie A, he relied heavily on Cavani and Pellè—both traditional center-forwards. Although both were a bit unconventional, they still fit the mold.

But after arriving at Manchester City, Gao Shen completely upended that model.

Giroud is a classic center-forward with a distinct tactical role. But at Manchester City, he's more of a specialized tool than a focal point. The real No. 9 is Suarez.

Standing 1.82 meters, he's not physically dominant. He's not the fastest either. But his footwork is exceptional, his individual technique outstanding, and his spatial awareness sharp. He links up beautifully with technical players like David Silva, Robinho, and Hazard, something traditional center-forwards like Alan Shearer, or even Lineker, wouldn't be able to do.

Forwards like Suarez are more versatile in their movement, operate over a wider range, and excel at drifting into wide areas or dropping into midfield to help build play.

Aside from lacking elite ability against deep, compact defenses, he can pretty much do it all.

Manchester City are a technical team but they also play with grit, like Suarez's recent collision with Ivanovic. Tough players like Javi Martinez, Kompany, and David Luiz all have roles to play at City.

But the key is—they all have solid technical ability.

"From front to back, Manchester City breaks the mold. Look at Neuer, does he look like a traditional goalkeeper?" Lineker said with a wry smile.

It's not that Neuer lacks ability. In fact, his performances rank among the best keepers in the Premier League.

But it's his playing style, especially his tendency to rush out of the box and dribble under pressure…

Honestly, it's nerve-wracking to watch.

Can you not be so reckless?

A goalkeeper should stay in his lane!

But what did Gao Shen say?

"This is the style I want!"

Well, turns out Gao Shen likes Neuer's madness.

"Manchester City's positional play is the best in the Premier League. One key reason is the three-dimensional structure of their attack and the variety of methods, especially their wide play. I heard that during preseason, they spent the most time drilling wing attacks and penetration—and they were meticulous."

"So, it's no surprise that City's positional play has improved so much. Compared to them, even teams like Arsenal under Wenger and Chelsea under Ancelotti look one-dimensional and inefficient."

If not for Gao Shen, maybe England's big clubs and top managers wouldn't look so awkward.

But unfortunately for them, Gao Shen arrived!

(To be continued.)

Chapter 619: Who Can Stop Gao Shen?

Robben passed the ball back to Zabaleta, who had pushed forward on the right to receive it.

The Argentine passed centrally, then quickly played it back into the center circle of his own half, where Javi Martinez was waiting unmarked.

David Silva had already dropped into the center circle in the attacking half.

There was no doubt—he wanted the ball.

Javi Martinez didn't even stop it. He redirected Zabaleta's pass directly to David Silva.

From receiving to turning, David Silva's movement was as smooth as flowing water—flawless and composed, filled with elegance.

Chelsea's defense was retreating quickly.

Essien was right in front of David Silva, sprinting back to reposition and re-establish the three-man midfield block with Ballack and Lampard. The latter two had already returned to their defensive positions.

Chelsea's shape looked solid.

After all, the Blues had a strong defensive line.

But at that moment, Suarez suddenly made a run from the center toward the left, as if he was going into open space to receive the ball.

The sudden move confused Chelsea's defense, and Carvalho shifted in his direction.

At nearly the same moment, David Silva delivered a sudden through ball—not to the left, but behind Suarez, threading it perfectly between Essien and Ballack, who were trying to hold the line.

The pass sliced straight through Chelsea's back line, allowing Suarez to face the center-back one-on-one.

Suarez abruptly stopped and spun around to chase Silva's ball.

The pass arrived right between Suarez and Carvalho. As Suarez turned, he found himself directly in front of Carvalho.

The Uruguayan striker had won the positional battle, latched onto the ball, and shaped as if to control it with his left foot, then burst toward the penalty area.

Carvalho stepped in to block.

In the first half, Suarez had made a similar move from the same position and broke into the box.

That time, he was level with Carvalho. This time, he had started a body length behind, which allowed Carvalho to take the initiative in defense.

But no one expected Suarez to suddenly pull the ball back, faking out Carvalho. As Carvalho moved to block, Suarez feinted, then cut the ball to his right. He shifted diagonally across the edge of the box with his right foot, burst forward, and before Carvalho could react—he unleashed a long-range shot with his right foot.

The ball skimmed the grass and rocketed toward the bottom-left corner of the goal.

Carvalho had no time to block, Terry couldn't close in fast enough, and Ballack and Lampard behind them were left flat-footed.

The ball flew in a near-straight line into the left side of Chelsea's net.

Cech dove full stretch—but he was a moment too late.

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!"

"Suarez again!"

"In the 77th minute, Suarez scores again!"

"2-0!!!"

"This is Manchester City's attack!"

"It comes out of nowhere—be it a pass, a run, or an opponent's mistake—City always pounce and turn it into a goal."

"David Silva's through ball was perfectly timed, and Suarez's fake-out was brilliant—just like a sly matador, playing with Carvalho."

"Both goals came from wide areas, and Suarez bagged them both. Manchester City now lead 2-0!"

…

"Wow!!!"

Gao Shen raised both arms, cheering wildly for Suarez.

Two-nil!

More than half an hour had passed since the last goal.

"Brilliant!" Gao Shen turned around, hugged his assistants, and couldn't help but laugh as they celebrated.

There hadn't been many goals tonight, but Manchester City had created a lot of chances.

Even though it was just 2-0, Gao Shen was very satisfied with how the game was unfolding.

He was confident: as long as the team maintained this form and avoided major issues over Christmas and the winter break, their performances would only improve.

"Luis has really integrated into our attacking system," Sarri said with a smile.

He truly admired Gao Shen's eye for talent.

When Gao Shen handpicked Suarez, everyone had doubts. After all, Suarez had only played in the Eredivisie, and people had seen the inconsistency of many Eredivisie exports in recent years.

But who would've thought Suarez would shine so brightly?

Unknowingly, the season was almost halfway through. Manchester City's players had gradually adapted and integrated into the advanced tactical system. It showed on the pitch, even under the intense pressing and pressure of Chelsea's midfield "meat grinder," City's players displayed excellent technical control and coordination.

Though the scoreline showed just two goals, this was easily one of Manchester City's best performances so far this season.

Gao Shen was extremely pleased with how his team had played.

And as he turned back to the pitch, his ambition swelled—he was determined to lead the team on an even longer winning streak.

The further they went, the better.

…

While Gao Shen on one side brimmed with enthusiasm, Ancelotti stood disappointed in front of the away team's technical area.

He hadn't slept well the night before—and now, he looked visibly aged.

Chelsea had mainly lost this game on the attacking front.

Ancelotti had initially feared Joe Cole wouldn't be effective against Javi Martinez and hoped to rely on Deco's experience and passing—yet Deco's performance ended up being worse than Cole's.

Truthfully, Deco wasn't comfortable playing centrally—especially now, older and with declining stamina.

Ballack was another veteran. Though still good at supporting the flanks, he relied heavily on help from Essien and Lampard. He lacked forward threat, which rendered Chelsea's vertical play virtually non-existent.

That made it much easier for Manchester City to defend.

In short, Chelsea barely posed an attacking threat all night, and their defensive issues were laid bare.

Ancelotti's 4-4-2 diamond midfield had been completely dismantled by Gao Shen.

"We've lost," Ancelotti sighed.

With Chelsea now trailing by two goals, no one understood better than him that a comeback was out of reach.

Wilkins could only nod in resignation.

No one wants to admit defeat, especially in a high-profile clash like this.

But it had to be acknowledged: Manchester City had simply performed better overall.

Chelsea only conceded two goals, which was already lucky. If not for Cech's heroics, City could have easily scored one or two more, and Chelsea would've been even more humiliated.

"So far this season, I'm afraid no one can stop Manchester City."

As he spoke, Wilkins glanced toward the home dugout, where Gao Shen stood.

Wilkins, a veteran of European football for decades, had never seen anyone quite like Gao Shen.

At just 29 years old, he had already performed this well as a head coach.

Based on tonight's showing, even against Ancelotti, Gao Shen hadn't looked outmatched at all.

It was simply astonishing!

…

Manchester City ultimately defeated Chelsea 2-0 at home, thanks to Suarez's brace, and extended their winning streak to 15 games.

After the match, Lineker cried out in frustration during Match of the Day:

"Who else can stop Gao Shen?"

It wasn't just Lineker's question—it was the question on the minds of countless media and fans.

Manchester City had been unstoppable.

Fifteen wins in a row, brushing aside almost every opponent in the Premier League. How could any team stop them?

It would've been understandable if they'd only beaten mid- or lower-table teams but even the traditional Big Four had fallen to Manchester City.

The Sun even published an article immediately after the game: "Will This Season's Premier League Lose All Suspense in the First Half?"

What it really meant was, Manchester City was too strong, and the rest of the Premier League was underperforming.

First it was Arsenal, then Manchester United, followed by Liverpool and Chelsea. None of the traditional top four could stop Gao Shen and his Manchester City. So what chance did the others have?

Manchester United had been doing well recently.

After losing to Chelsea in Round 12, they had bounced back with a 3-0 home win over Everton, a 4-1 away win at Portsmouth, and a 4-0 away win over West Ham in this round.

As always, Ferguson's team picked up form heading into winter. This was when they were at their most dangerous—during the Christmas and winter period.

After the West Ham match, Ferguson publicly acknowledged Manchester City's dominance.

"Manchester City has been the best team in the Premier League this season, no doubt. But it's still too early to say the title race is over."

"I said before the season that the biggest test for them would come during Christmas and the winter schedule."

"This is Gao Shen's first time coaching in the Premier League. It's also the first time for most of his players to experience it. I'm sure they'll prepare well, I have no doubt Gao Shen is a master of squad rotation."

"But I still believe they will run into problems over Christmas and the winter break."

Ferguson explained that "those who haven't experienced the Premier League's Christmas and winter schedule can't truly understand how brutal it is for the teams."

"Only after surviving that schedule can a team undergo real transformation. Only then do they deserve to be called champions!"

The media interpreted Ferguson's comments as an attempt to stir up pressure for Manchester City.

After all, this was United's favorite time of year to assert dominance. Over the past decade or more, they had consistently surged during the festive period.

Some outlets even boldly declared: Manchester United will make a comeback.

"Manchester City's current lead isn't as commanding as Newcastle's back in the day. United and Chelsea still have a chance!"

"Manchester City wants to wrap up the title race during the winter break?"

"That's impossible in the Premier League!"

(To be continued.)

Chapter 620: Finally

In early August, before the start of this season's Premier League, no one would have expected Manchester City to perform so strongly and continue winning all the way into December.

After defeating Chelsea 2–0, Manchester City had beaten all the Premier League's top teams, except for Tottenham Hotspur.

But after seeing them sweep past the Big Four, few believed that Manchester City wouldn't be able to beat the North London side as well.

Of course, there was still a hint of suspense.

But Gao Shen's team quickly erased all doubt with their performance.

In the 16th round of the Premier League, Manchester City traveled away to face Bolton.

Just eleven minutes into the game, Robben opened the scoring for City.

After that, Manchester City players added four more goals in the first half, through headers and long-range efforts.

In the second half, Suarez and substitute Sturridge each scored one.

In the end, Manchester City crushed Bolton 6–0 on the road.

The entire Premier League was left stunned.

…

Three days later, in the 17th round of the Premier League, Manchester City traveled south to London to face Tottenham Hotspur.

Redknapp's side had prepared meticulously and relied on a tight defensive setup to stifle City's attack. But in the 37th minute, Gareth Bale curled a direct free-kick into the Spurs net to open the scoring.

In the second half, in the 54th minute, Crouch assisted Duff, who equalized for Tottenham.

But not long after, Sturridge whipped in a cross from the right, and Gareth Bale charged into the left side of the box and headed home from close range, restoring Manchester City's lead.

The former North London menace redeemed himself in style—scoring twice against his old club!

Redknapp said in the post-match press conference that letting Gareth Bale leave Tottenham was a great regret.

"I rated him highly, but unfortunately, he lost patience with waiting for chances at Tottenham."

Gao Shen stated that Gareth Bale was getting better and better, and had become one of Manchester City's most important players.

"I have no doubt he'll become a top player in Europe, maybe even one of the very best, provided he maintains his current momentum. I believe he's destined to be a superstar."

It was clear that Gao Shen placed high expectations on Gareth Bale.

In return, Bale publicly expressed his respect for Gao Shen in a later interview with the Welsh media, praising him as the best head coach he'd ever worked under.

"He's like a magician—he always finds the most suitable position and space for a player. He helped me understand where I should play and the path I should follow."

Gareth Bale said that joining Manchester City was the best decision he had ever made.

…

That weekend, in the 18th round of the Premier League, Manchester City hosted Sunderland.

Gao Shen came up against his predecessor, Mark Hughes.

Interestingly, Gao Shen had started Gareth Bale against Tottenham, while for this match against Sunderland, Jordan Henderson came in for Javi Martinez. Mark Hughes, meanwhile, started Wright-Phillips.

Just four minutes in, Giroud headed home the opening goal for Manchester City.

Robinho then extended the lead with a penalty.

Sunderland pulled one back, but in the 24th minute, Jordan Henderson fired a long-range shot from the center and found the back of the net.

It was Henderson's first goal since joining Manchester City.

After that, City took full control and went into halftime leading 4–1.

In the second half, Manchester City added two more goals, one of them again from Giroud.

In the end, Manchester City defeated the Black Cats 6–1, recording their 18th consecutive win.

…

For a time, the entire Premier League—and even all of European football—was left stunned.

No one had expected Manchester City to be this dominant.

After the win over Sunderland, Manchester City booked a banquet hall in a luxury hotel downtown and held a grand Christmas dinner.

Mubarak, Cook, and other senior club officials attended the event. Mansour also delivered a congratulatory message via remote video, praising the team's achievements and encouraging them to continue their efforts.

To further motivate the team, Manchester City even promised a record-breaking bonus for winning the title. The goal was to push everyone in the squad to perform even better, compete for the league title and secure a Champions League spot for next season.

On behalf of the team, Gao Shen made a solemn promise to Mansour: Manchester City would give their all to continue the winning streak!

As for the concerns raised by Mansour and widely reported in the media about the challenges of the Christmas and winter fixture schedule, Gao Shen said that the coaching staff had made comprehensive preparations.

"We've accounted for every possible factor and change. I'm confident I can lead the team through this grueling schedule!"

Mansour was very satisfied with Gao Shen's confidence and expressed his full trust in the manager and the team.

…

Having made that promise to the boss, Gao Shen was busy behind the scenes.

He wasn't the least bit arrogant because of the 18-game winning streak. He understood exactly how tough the Christmas and winter period could be.

Especially on Boxing Day—the 26th and 28th—when teams have to play two games in three days. That's a test for any squad, so Gao Shen had prepared well in advance and implemented a rotation plan.

Once January begins, the team will also need to manage player fitness through effective rotation in preparation for the second half of the season.

To better prepare for the Boxing Day match, Gao Shen even arranged a group activity for the entire Manchester City squad, inviting players' families to participate. They would attend the Etihad Stadium to watch the match together.

This served as a form of motivation for the players.

And it worked.

After a week's rest, Manchester City played their final match of the first half of the season on the day after Christmas.

Their opponents in the 19th round of the Premier League were Stoke City.

The first twenty minutes of the game were cagey, but then Manchester City launched wave after wave of attack.

Gao Shen once again deployed a 4-4-2 diamond midfield, but this time Hazard was replaced by Adam Lallana.

City sustained their attacks and ultimately routed Stoke 7–0 at home, with goals from Suarez, Sturridge, Robinho, and Gareth Bale.

It was the perfect way to start the festive period.

After this win, Manchester City had notched up 19 consecutive victories, setting a record for winning the first half of the Premier League, the English top flight, and even across Europe's top four leagues.

Blue Moon captured the halfway title with a perfect record, earning widespread acclaim from media and fans around the globe.

Everyone was in awe of Gao Shen and Manchester City's performance.

There had been teams that went unbeaten in the first half of a season and won the title.

But no one had ever seen a team win the first half with a perfect record.

More and more media outlets and fans believed that this season's Premier League title would belong to Manchester City.

Blue Moon had already secured the championship in advance!

…

On the evening of December 28th, at Goodison Park in Liverpool.

When referee Mike Jones blew the final whistle, nearly 40,000 Everton fans in the stadium erupted in wild celebration.

The scoreboard read 2–0. As per standard format, the home team's score is listed first, the visitors second.

Manchester City had lost!

Gao Shen was finally defeated!

David Moyes was ecstatic, dancing along the touchline.

Gao Shen stood in front of the away technical area, his expression heavy, helpless.

From a 7–0 victory to a 0–2 loss, Manchester City's form had shifted drastically in just two days.

Robben was injured just nine minutes into the game.

That seemed to cast a shadow over the entire match.

Gao Shen replaced Robben with Robinho, but the Brazilian had played the full match two days prior, and his performance was lackluster.

Not just him—under the bitter cold, the entire Manchester City squad seemed to forget how to play football.

Passing errors began to pile up. Under the pressure of Everton's five-man midfield, City struggled to put together any coherent attacks.

Pienaar's goal came from a counterattack following a City passing error.

In first-half stoppage time, Micah Richards fouled Saha in the box, gifting Everton a penalty. The French striker calmly converted, extending the home team's lead.

During the halftime break, Gao Shen brought on De Jong to reinforce the midfield and improve defensive stability. It helped steady the team, but the attacking play remained disjointed. Giroud missed several clear chances.

In the end, Manchester City lost 0–2 away from home.

Gao Shen raised his hands and wiped his face, numb from the cold. He couldn't help but wonder in confusion—was this just a one-off defeat?

Maybe.

But as the manager, he had already sensed subtle changes within the team.

The players' mentality was completely different from the match against Stoke two days ago.

It was difficult to describe.

It wasn't that the players weren't trying, nor were they slacking off, it was more like a lack of motivation.

Like students being forced to attend makeup classes during summer break, or employees on annual leave made to work overtime during New Year's.

They were still playing and working but their energy and drive were nothing like before.

Gao Shen understood why.

Because in most other leagues, teams would be on break right now. Players would be home with their families, enjoying Christmas with their wives and children. Instead, they had to leave all that behind and travel to Liverpool for a match.

Even if it was a same-day round-trip from Manchester to Liverpool, the emotional burden was heavy.

This was a kind of inner resistance not from laziness or neglect but something subconscious, something players couldn't control.

And it wasn't just one or two individuals—it was nearly the entire squad, except for the British players.

Only now did Gao Shen truly understand why Ferguson had been so confident that Manchester City would struggle over Christmas.

Playing two matches in three days is already insane.

And to do it during Christmas…

(To be continued.)