96: Chapter 96 The Second Half is Full of Turmoil! Guardiola Changes Tactics to Stifle the Enemy, Yu Bai Becomes the Target Again

The touching scene in the tunnel at the Etihad Stadium had already concluded.

But for the 22 players on the pitch and the tens of thousands of fans, the 15-minute halftime break was merely the calm before the storm, a precious interlude for both managers to reorganize their formations and inject new tactical ideas.

The home team's locker room.

Guardiola stood before the tactical board, his expression more grave than at the end of the first half.

He unconsciously twirled a marker in his hand, his gaze sweeping over his slightly weary yet still combative disciples.

"Children, listen up."

His voice was low, yet carried an unquestionable penetrating power; the locker room instantly fell silent.

"1:1, this isn't the result we want, but that is football."

"Leicester City is more difficult to deal with than we imagined, that number 52..."

He paused and drew a striking circle around Yu Bai's name. "He is not an ordinary 'explosive point.' His reading of the game, his choice of timing for fouls, and that damned long-range shot... He is much more mature and dangerous than the data shows."

He turned to Fernandinho and Yaya Touré: "In the second half, I want both of you, or at least one, to be by his side at all times. Do not give him space to turn or accelerate. Before he receives the ball, make physical contact. If he gets past you..."

Guardiola's eyes sharpened. "Use a tactical foul to stop him, outside the danger zone! At all costs!"

"Kevin (De Bruyne), Sergio (Aguero)," he looked at the dual cores of the front line again, "We need faster Passing, more off-the-ball movement, pull their defensive line apart. Do not get stuck in a midfield brawl, get the ball quickly to the flanks of their penalty area!"

"Also," Guardiola drew two new arrows on the tactical board, "Raheem (Raheem Sterling), in the second half, cut inside more to attack their ribs, bring their fullbacks in."

"We need to play more flexibly and more directly! Use our attacking firepower to crush them!"

Changing formations, strengthening targeted defense, increasing attacking speed.

Guardiola's adjustment strategy was clear and decisive.

He wanted to use holistic and varied attacks to deal with Yu Bai, the unstable "X-factor," while simultaneously "locking him down" with tighter defense.

...

The visiting team's locker room.

The atmosphere was relatively relaxed, but by no means slack.

Claudio Ranieri had a faint, satisfied flush on his face as he clapped his hands forcefully: "Lads, well done! You held on! We withstood Manchester City's fiercest attack and even dealt them a heavy blow!"

"However," he changed his tone, his expression becoming serious, "only half the game has passed. Guardiola won't sit idly by; they will definitely counterattack in the second half, and it will be fiercer and more targeted."

He looked at Yu Bai with complex eyes, containing both admiration and worry: "Yu, in the second half, you will face greater defensive pressure. They will do everything they can to prevent you from receiving the ball comfortably."

"You need to be smarter, pass the ball faster, you can retreat deeper to receive it, draw their defense out, and create space for Jamie (Vardy) and Riyad (Mahrez)."

"Also," Claudio Ranieri emphasized, "protect yourself. Their actions might become more aggressive."

He looked at Kante and Danny Drinkwater again: "NGolo, Danny, midfield interception and distribution are key! We need to control the rhythm; we cannot run around blindly following them!"

Finally, he looked at everyone and waved his fist: "Remember, we are first in the League! We are fearless! Go fight, go fight for every possession! Drag the game into our rhythm!"

...

"Beep—!!!"

The second half begins!

A sudden change in the situation!

Almost from the first minute, Manchester City raised the intensity of the game to a new level!

Their High Pressing was more frantic and more collaborative; it was no longer individual combat, but rather groups of two or three forming local encirclements to surround the Leicester City ball carrier.

And Yu Bai immediately felt the taste of Guardiola's "special care."

47th minute.

Yu Bai retreated near the midfield line to receive a pass from Danny Drinkwater.

Just as he steadied the ball, Fernandinho stuck to him like a leech, using his strong physique to pin him down, preventing him from turning.

Meanwhile, Yaya Touré also moved from the front-side, the two forming a perfect pincer attack, one in front and one behind.

Yu Bai tried to use feints to shake them off, but Fernandinho was experienced and didn't fall for it, simply continuing to apply pressure with his body.

Touré kept extending his legs to interfere, blocking his Passing lanes to the sides.

Seeing he was about to lose the ball, Yu Bai had to risk a hurried back-pass to the supporting Wes Morgan. And just as he released the ball, Fernandinho subtly pulled his jersey, while Touré gave his outer thigh a not-too-light, not-too-heavy knee bump!

Little tricks, very dirty, and very effective.

Yu Bai's body stalled, almost falling over; losing his balance, he couldn't make a forward run to support in time.

"Damn it..."

Yu Bai cursed under his breath, steadied himself, and immediately raised his hand to signal the referee, but Fernandinho's pulling action was in Referee Anthony Taylor's blind spot; he didn't see it at all and made no call.

52nd minute.

Manchester City's offense yielded results.

De Bruyne, after a delicate one-two with Raheem Sterling on the right, sent in a 45-degree cross with a perfect arc!

Aguero jumped forcefully amidst the double-teaming of Robert Huth and Wes Morgan, a powerful header that overwhelmed both!

"Bang!"

The ball smashed hard against the top of the crossbar and bounced out of bounds!

"Crossbar! Aguero! Just inches away!"

"Manchester City's offensive is too fierce!"

55th minute.

Leicester City finally got a counterattack opportunity.

Mahrez broke through on the right, saw Yu Bai sprinting on the left flank, and immediately sent a long diagonal pass!

The ball was slightly behind, and Yu Bai stopped abruptly and turned, preparing to cushion the ball with his chest. However, the moment he turned, Bacary Sagna came from the side and behind with a fierce, collision-style sliding tackle, taking down both the man and the ball!

"Beep—!"

Referee Anthony Taylor blew his whistle, ran over, and showed a yellow card to Bacary Sagna! The action was too obvious.

Yu Bai fell to the turf, clutching his lower leg where the studs had scraped, wincing in pain.

Kante and Danny Drinkwater rushed over immediately, surrounding the referee to argue, believing it should have been a red card.

Bacary Sagna walked away expressionless, with no intention of pulling Yu Bai up or apologizing.

This was tactics: at the cost of a yellow card, completely interrupt this potentially fast counterattack from Leicester City, and continue to apply pressure on Yu Bai, exhausting him, infuriating him.

[WTF! Is this aimed at crippling someone?!]

[Yellow card? This action is worthy of a red card!]

[Manchester City is planning to kick Xiao Bai out of the game!]

The Free kick taken by Yu Bai sought too much angle and missed the frame, failing to pose a threat to the goal guarded by Joe Hart.

60th minute.

Manchester City's relentless attack finally converted into a goal again.

After Raheem Sterling cut inside from the left, he passed the ball to the overlapping De Bruyne. De Bruyne feigned a shot but passed instead at the edge of the penalty area, using a skillful back-heel flick to send the ball into the open space on the right side of the penalty area!

The substitute, with fresh Stamina, Navas rushed up at high speed, and without stopping the ball, sent a low cross directly!

Aguero made a dummy run at the near post, drawing away the defense.

At the far post, Yaya Touré crushed in like a heavy tank, carrying the defense of Danny Drinkwater, and smashed a powerful right-footed shot!

Kasper Schmeichel couldn't make the save!

2:1! Manchester City leads again! Yaya Touré!

"Gooooooal!!! Touré! Violent aesthetics! Manchester City leads again!"

"De Bruyne's pass was so imaginative! Touré's run and shot were unstoppable!"

After scoring, Touré roared and rushed to the corner flag, pounding his chest, intentionally casting a provocative and demonstrative look in the direction of Yu Bai.

Kid, see that? This is power! This is how you decide a game!

Falling behind again! And while being suppressed on the field!

The Leicester City players' faces were filled with unwillingness and impatience.

Claudio Ranieri waved his hands anxiously on the sidelines, signaling the players to steady themselves and push up!

Yu Bai stood in the center circle, watching the celebrating Manchester City players, his chest heaving violently. The pain in his lower leg, the frustration of being double-teamed, the pressure of the team falling behind... various emotions intertwined.

But he took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed all negative emotions.

He looked at Claudio Ranieri on the sidelines; the old manager was also looking at him, his eyes filled with trust and encouragement.

Yu Bai nodded, his eyes becoming sharp again.

Want to lock me down?

Use fouls to interrupt me?

Use goals to provoke me?

Very well.

He moved his shoulder and leg, which were aching from the collision, and cast his gaze toward the Manchester City goal, and the goalkeeper Joe Hart.

The "Worldie" mission hasn't been completed yet.

The second half has just begun, and the storm is far from over.

2:1, Manchester City leads.

But everyone knows that with Yu Bai's personality and the resilience of Leicester City this season, the final outcome of this game is far from decided.