Chapter 802: Epic Grand Slam
After taking a one-goal lead in the first half, Manchester City placed greater emphasis on ball control, showing a demeanor more akin to seasoned veterans rather than newcomers to the Champions League final.
This came as a bit of a surprise to most people, but careful observation revealed the significant role Wang Feng played in it.
He always moved around, making various commanding gestures, conveying to his teammates when to press the rhythm and when to push forward.
This is also another important role Guardiola hoped Wang Feng would play on the field, as no player to date understands the Champions League and the final more than him.
The experience of the Chinese superstar is the experience of the whole team. He stands like a flag on the battlefield, while the players are like disciplined soldiers.
As the second half started, in the 61st minute, Otamendi and Silva formed a siege in their own penalty area, successfully intercepting the ball from Robben's feet, with the latter in control.
With a wave of his hand, Wang Feng signaled forward, and everyone immediately launched an attack.
Silva dribbled along the sideline past the halfway line, then passed to Wang Feng nearby. Instead of controlling the ball, the Chinese superstar cleverly let it go, catching Vidal off guard with a quick turn.
Wang Feng caught up with the ball in the opponent's thirty-meter area and passed it horizontally to De Bruyne, who was running behind.
Initially sprinting on the left, Sané saw the Belgian moving diagonally inward and decisively penetrated the penalty area to support.
De Bruyne naturally saw his teammate's movement. He pretended to create space for a long shot, then flicked the ball with his left foot as it dropped.
An extremely tricky yet accurate chip pass bypassed the defense and went straight to Sané's feet near the goal line.
Without any adjustment needed, the German winger easily passed the ball back to the middle from the edge of the small penalty area. Wang Feng arrived in time on the left side of the edge of the small penalty area, ready to shoot.
Bayern goalkeeper Neuer immediately dove to the ground to save, while Boateng and Lahm in the penalty area also slid in to block. Unexpectedly, the Chinese superstar took advantage of the situation, deftly flicked the ball, and passed it to the far post.
Aguero, who was unmarked at the moment, and with an empty net in front of him, simply tapped the ball into Bayern's goal.
"Goooooooooooooooooal!! The ball is in!"
"2:0! Manchester City has once again expanded their lead!"
"Wang Feng passes to Aguero in front of the goal, and the latter puts it in without any pressure!"
"This is an unexpected counterattack by the Sky Blues, tearing open the Bayern defense with several quick passes. They are only 30 minutes away from the trophy now!"
On the sidelines, Ancelotti frowned deeply. He had already attached great importance to Wang Feng's role in the team, but he was still shocked.
This was not just ordinary ball possession; it was a perfectly executed tactic with complete flexibility!
By adding more speed-up tricks to the traditional possession rhythm, such as Wang Feng's recent ball release and turn, at least two instances of pass and receive time were saved.
Also, De Bruyne's tricky and accurate lob pass greatly saved penetration consumption.
Calm like a calm sea, yet surging like waves! You can't stop it, really can't stop it! The Italian shook his head with a bitter smile. He planned to make substitutions and take a gamble, sending Müller and Coman on to strengthen the attack.
But this undoubtedly weakened their defensive line. In the 80th minute, after several long attacks failed to result in a goal, Bayern was again caught by Manchester City.
Several efficient passes were sent to the front, Wang Feng passed to Sané on the wing, who then passed horizontally in front of the goal. Aguero's shot near the penalty spot was saved by Neuer.
The ball didn't fly far and landed outside the penalty area, where Silva had been lurking nearby, waiting for an opportunity. Without hesitation, he rushed up and struck a powerful volley with his right foot.
The powerful and precise long-range shot almost grazed the post and went into the net, leaving no chance for the Bayern goalkeeper to save.
3:0! The Sky Blues were simply unstoppable!
Everyone found this result unbelievable. Were the traditional giants Bayern really so weak?
Actually, it wasn't the case. Apart from slightly higher ball possession, Bayern had far more shots, shots on target, and even corner and free-kick opportunities than their opponents.
However, their attacking efficiency was too low, coupled with Bravo's heroic performance, keeping their goal intact.
On the other hand, the Sky Blues, with only 6 shots, scored 3 goals, employing a strategy of fewer but more precise attacks, allowing them to focus more on defense and deliver fatal blows at crucial moments.
"Oh? The referee has blown the final whistle! The match is over! The match is over!"
"After a brief three minutes of stoppage time, the new Champions League champions have been crowned, they are Manchester City!"
The Cardiff Millennium Stadium erupted in cheers. Countless Manchester City fans were ecstatic, shouting and dancing with all their might.
The players on the field were no different, even the experienced Wang Feng couldn't hide his joy.
Kompany ran to the sidelines with his arms open, kneeling and roaring, experiencing the fulfillment of his lifelong dream in his 14-year professional football career!
Veterans like Silva and Fernandinho watched their captain's ecstatic display, feeling the same excitement.
The Champions League title was once an honor they didn't dare to dream of, but being able to taste such sweetness at the end of their careers made it all worthwhile.
Youngsters like Sané and Jesus ran around expressing their excitement, while Gundogan, who had been absent due to injury, witnessed it all from the bench and joined in the celebration.
De Bruyne jumped onto Wang Feng's back, "We did it, we really did it!" The Belgian's voice even choked with emotion.
An epic grand slam, what a great feat!
"Congratulations to the Sky Blues, congratulations to all the players, coaching staff, and staff. They have created a remarkable monument by winning the first quadruple in the Premier League!"
"The domestic league, FA Cup, League Cup, combined with the UEFA Champions League trophy, Manchester City has become the most dominant club in the world this season!"
"This is something that all Premier League giants have never achieved. Even under the reign of Ferguson, the glorious Red Devils only won three trophies, lacking the glory of a League Cup."
"The Sky Blues, however, have won the grand slam, which will undoubtedly leave a dazzling mark in the hundred-year history of English football."
"At the same time, we once again congratulate Wang Feng. His legendary career has added many highlights."
"By now, the Chinese superstar has won 14 Champions League trophies, dominating European football for 12 consecutive years."
"There is no doubt that Wang Feng is the main contributor to Manchester City's grand slam victory. With a goal and an assist in the final, he contributed 17 goals and 8 assists throughout the Champions League season, leading the scoring chart and once again winning the Champions League's top scorer title."
"Not to mention his breaking of the Premier League record with 44 goals and 14 assists, it can be said that with just this season's performance, Manchester City has achieved tremendous success in their transfer operations."
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