I forgot to schedule chapter upload, sorry guys.
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Manchester City plays a lobbed ball over the top... Suárez beats the offside trap!"
"Porto's in danger!"
"Helton comes off his line!"
As more than 18,000 fans at the Stade Louis II cried out in excitement, Porto goalkeeper Helton, charging out of his goal, leapt to snatch the ball out of the air just ahead of Suárez. When he landed, the ball was already close to the edge of the penalty area.
It was a tense moment.
Suárez shook his head helplessly and smiled bitterly, then gave Rakitic a thumbs-up from a distance.
He had tried to reach the ball as quickly as possible, but it was still just a second too late.
The problem was that it was hard to deal with.
Helton could have used his hands after rushing out, but because Rakitic's pass was a lob, Suárez had to try to head it. He was a step slower than Helton. He also attempted to hook it with his foot but missed, which made it all the more awkward.
All in all, it was a great chance, but Suárez didn't finish it.
However, the attack served as a wake-up call for Porto.
Don't think just because you're gaining the upper hand early that you'll come away with the win.
This was Manchester City's debut in the European Super Cup, and they weren't about to take any risks.
Unlike Porto coach Vítor Pereira, who stood anxiously on the sidelines shouting at Otamendi and Rolando, Gao Shen remained calm. He clapped loudly and praised his players.
"Pay attention. Keep playing like that. Take your time, no need to rush."
Gao Shen stayed patient.
Porto was anxious because they couldn't break down Manchester City in a conventional positional game. In fact, they were already at a disadvantage and had no choice but to press and take risks.
But if you can control your opponent and win by playing solid football, why take unnecessary risks?
Win by right tactics. Surprise with the unexpected.
That was exactly what he meant.
But as long as Manchester City saw an opening, they would strike without hesitation.
After working together for a long time, the players and head coach had developed a strong sense of understanding.
The players could easily read what the head coach wanted, adapting on the pitch, adjusting their own roles and the team's tactics even without direct instructions.
Just like today.
Facing Porto, Manchester City held the psychological advantage.
After Suárez's near-miss off the lobbed pass, Porto launched a counterattack and won a free-kick at the edge of the penalty area.
Javi Martínez committed the foul, giving Porto a set-piece opportunity in the attacking third. Hulk took the kick himself, but in an effort to avoid the jumping wall, the ball lacked enough dip and sailed high over the bar.
Porto continued attacking down the flanks, earning a few corners in succession.
Gao Shen didn't panic and remained as still as a mountain.
He had already realized that without Falcao in the center, Porto's most threatening weapon was gone. Even if their wing play looked active, it wouldn't produce much in the middle.
Hulk was active on the right—Manchester City's left. The Brazilian forward was physically dominant, fast, and agile on the ball. He posed a serious threat when cutting inside from the wing.
So Manchester City made a small adjustment to strengthen their coverage on his side.
In the 26th minute, Javi Martínez successfully cleared the ball in front of the penalty area.
The clearance landed at the feet of the retreating Suárez, who turned and played a pass out to the right.
Robben took off at full speed, carried the ball into the final third, suddenly cut inside and shook off Porto's left-back Fucile. Then, dribbling laterally, he evaded Otamendi's challenge.
After beating two defenders, he delivered a sharp diagonal pass with his left foot before Souza could step in to contain him.
The ball cut across the top of the penalty area, slicing through the defensive zones of Souza, Otamendi, and Rolando. Even Porto's right-back Sapunaru was caught off guard.
Gareth Bale darted in from the left like a lightning bolt, bursting through Porto's defense on the left side of the box. Without taking a touch to settle it, he struck the ball with his left foot.
Robben's diagonal pass was guided smoothly into the bottom left corner of Porto's goal.
Goalkeeper Helton was still covering the right side of the goal and couldn't get close.
"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!"
"Gareth Bale!!!"
"Manchester City take the lead, 1–0!"
"The goal came from the Welsh left winger, Gareth Bale!"
"And the assist—delivered brilliantly by Dutch winger Robben!"
"What a link-up between two world-class wingers!"
"It was clever and unexpected teamwork!"
"Robben broke free at top speed down the right, beat two defenders cutting inside, and played a diagonal pass with his left foot that left Porto's defense reeling."
"This attack from Manchester City was simply beautiful!"
On the sidelines, Gao Shen raised both arms in celebration for Bale's goal and exhaled in relief.
That goal settled things.
But more importantly, it showcased the link-up between Robben and Gareth Bale.
Many fans still remember the core offensive pattern of Barcelona's Dream Team II under Rijkaard: Ronaldinho would cut inside from the left, drawing defenders toward him, before sending a diagonal pass with his right foot—either to Eto'o or the right winger, Giuly.
Every team knew it was coming, but almost no one could stop it.
Years later, in Real Madrid's midfield of Modrić, Kroos, and Casemiro, have you ever wondered why Modrić always played on the right and Kroos on the left?
The answer is the same.
A player's inverted foot gives him a better angle when cutting inside to face the goal, and makes defending more difficult.
Unless you double-mark him.
Just like Robben's cut-in just now—he was attacking from the right, facing centrally. His stronger left foot was on the inside, making it much harder to dispossess him. Once he used his left foot to control the ball, it became extremely difficult for defenders to challenge.
Similarly, Ronaldinho and Kroos both received the ball on the left and turned toward the center with their right foot.
In these scenarios, the defender is extremely passive in one-on-one duels.
And these players don't just shoot. They tend to pass, which makes them even harder to predict.
Gao Shen had been analyzing and refining this all summer, especially digging into Manchester City's existing squad.
For example, he had experimented with playing David Silva as a right winger or even a right-sided midfielder for the same tactical purpose.
But it wasn't quite time to fully commit to those changes yet. The team still needed more adjustment.
The combination of Robben and Bale, and even the possibility of Bale switching to the right in the future to take over Robben's role, were all areas Manchester City would continue to explore.
Because many of last season's attacking strategies had been studied and targeted by opponents, Manchester City had to keep evolving, digging deeper, and improving its strength.
That was the only way to survive in the fiercely competitive world of European football.
Rest on your laurels?
Don't even think about it!
The best example came just three minutes after Bale's goal.
After taking the lead, Gao Shen gave the signal, and Manchester City turned up the pressure in midfield and the attacking third, trying to push Porto back and land a second blow.
During one sequence near the penalty area, Suárez fed a pass to Bale.
The Welshman dribbled from the left corner of the penalty area, and as he prepared to shoot, he saw Helton covering the near post while Sapunaru blocked the far post. He had no angle left and still went for the shot, but Helton saved it.
That was proof enough.
As you study your opponent, your opponent is also studying you.
Bale's cutting runs and finishing from that side were known threats, and Porto had specifically prepared for it.
In that case, more variation was needed.
After that attacking sequence failed to produce a second goal, Gao Shen gestured for his players to ease the pressing a bit and allow Porto to come forward.
As expected, the Portuguese side was eager to level the score before halftime and launched another attack.
Manchester City held their shape and forced Porto to settle for long-range efforts.
The most dangerous was a long-range strike from Guarín that forced Neuer into a spectacular save.
Soon after, Manchester City intercepted the ball just outside the penalty area. Suárez dropped deep into his own half to collect it, then played a diagonal ball to Robben on the right and made a run forward himself.
Robben attracted two defenders near the center circle, then suddenly stopped and switched directions. He used his left foot to play another diagonal pass.
The ball went straight to Suárez, but Otamendi and Rolando tracked back quickly, cutting off his momentum just as he entered the final third. He had to stop and control the ball.
As soon as he did, Otamendi and Rolando closed in.
But at 25 meters out, Suárez was well within shooting range.
At that moment, the Uruguayan showed his class. Without even glancing up, he swept his right foot and played a no-look pass to the vacant left side.
While Porto's center-backs were still trying to figure out what had happened, a figure darted in from deep. He collected the pass in stride, burst into the box like the wind.
Goalkeeper Helton was stunned and immediately rushed out.
But Gareth Bale was faster. Near the top right edge of the penalty area, he reached the ball just in time and, without hesitation, lashed it with his left foot.
The shot flew past Helton and into the empty net behind him.
"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!"
"Gareth Bale! Again!"
"A brace!"
"In the 42nd minute, Manchester City double their lead!"
"Incredible! Manchester City's counterattack was lightning fast, and Gareth Bale was everywhere. Just a moment ago, he was near his own box, and now he's scoring again in Porto's!"
"2–0! Porto are in real trouble now!"
(To be continued.)