Chapter 468: Chapter 468

Although Spain has never truly relinquished its sovereign claim over Gibraltar, the signing of the treaty marked Gibraltar’s official status as a British colony.

Gibraltar, this narrow strip of land located in southern Spain, though small in size, has touched upon the complex relations between Spain and the United Kingdom for hundreds of years.

Today, it remains a British overseas territory, despite its geographical proximity to Spanish mainland.

For years, Spain has fought multiple wars in an attempt to reclaim Gibraltar, but until now, this dream seems far from realization.

Indeed, Spain, a developed Western European country, has within its territory a British colony!

Although Manchester City doesn’t have many British players, with only Joe Hart, Delph, and Sterling counted altogether.

However, this doesn’t prevent the people of Seville from pouring their hatred for the British colonizers onto Manchester City.

"In this match, Manchester City still employed their usual 4-2-3-1 formation!"

"Perhaps due to their poor performance in the last match, where they were unexpectedly held to a draw by Swansea, Pellegrini made significant rotations for this match."

"The starting goalkeeper is still Caballero, but his defensive partners have changed to Kompany and Demichelis, with Otamendi on the bench!"

"Kolarov replaced Klichy in the starting line-up as the left back!"

"In midfield, the two defensive midfielders are Delph and Fernandinho!"

"The camera cuts to Toure on the bench, with him holding his head, showing an indifferent face, seemingly not happy?"

"The former French four swans, we haven’t seen his flair on the Champions League stage for a long time."

"Navas returned to the starting lineup."

"Tang Long remains in the attacking midfield position!"

"The starting forward position has changed from Bony to the young Iheanacho!"

"It’s Iheanacho’s debut in the Champions League this season... No! It’s his career debut in the Champions League!"

"Let’s anticipate what impressive performance this 19-year-old youngster will deliver."

However, Manchester City did not show any impressive performance in the first half!

Manchester City, this expensive low-slung sports car, was heavily adjusted by Pellegrini this match, changing quite a few new parts.

The purpose of these adjustments was naturally part of the regular rotations for the Champions League, but more so, it was Pellegrini’s response to dissatisfaction with the players’ performance in the last match.

He needs to put some pressure on the team!

Although the personnel changed, the tactics remained the same!

Still insisting on the ground passing control tactics.

In the backfield, the crucial ball-playing center-back role transitioned from Otamendi to Demichelis;

However, both defensive midfielders, whether Fernandinho or Delph, have relatively ordinary technical skills, being purely interceptive defensive midfielders!

Even though Demichelis’s footwork is slightly better than Otamendi’s, forming connections with the midfield was still challenging.

More importantly, they are facing Seville, a traditional La Liga strong team!

Skillful footwork is also Seville’s strong suit, at least from the existing personnel configuration, Seville, with their full squad, exhibited better passing control skills in the first half than Manchester City!

"Footwork, footwork!"

"Pulling, positioning!" Content originally comes from nοvelfire.net

"Yes, that’s right, aim for the short ones!"

Spanish head coach and tactical master Emery was gesturing and shouting continuously on the sidelines.

For this match, Emery placed great importance, only by defeating Manchester City could they gain a favorable position in the battle with Juventus for the second place in the group!

At the 15th minute of the first half, Demichelis broke free from forward Gameiro’s pressing and passed the ball to Delph.

Delph naturally made a swift move, intending to get past the thin Banega.

But what he didn’t anticipate was that Banega had already foreseen Delph’s intention, extended his foot to block it, and immediately made a steal!

Toure on the bench pounded his thigh heavily and shouted:

"How can Delph play the ball like that? He didn’t observe the situation behind him, too presumptuous!"

If it weren’t for Demichelis’s desperate rescue, stretching his body to the limit to precariously destroy Banega’s through ball, Manchester City’s goal might have already been breached!

Manchester City’s offensive remained very "troubled."

This trouble primarily manifested in the current personnel configuration, with tangled passing control.

Tang Long frequently retreated to move extensively in midfield to receive the ball, alleviating this inarticulacy and sending penetrating through balls according to his teammates’ positions;

But as soon as the ball left Tang Long’s foot, the rhythm of other teammates seemed out of sync.

At the 25th minute of the first half, Navas got the ball and suddenly accelerated to the flank, dodging past right-back Koke.

Iheanacho, waiting in the penalty area, could no longer hold back.

Standing 1.85 meters tall with an impressive leap, he had great confidence in suppressing Seville’s two relatively short center-backs to fight for a header!

However, what puzzled him was that Nasri did not cross with his left foot but instead pulled the ball back;

Then passed back to the left-back Kolarov who was coming to support.

Kolarov then handed the ball to Delph, the football was relayed through short passes.

"Cross it, what are you waiting for, such a good opportunity!" Iheanacho stomped anxiously.

"You could have crossed, Nasri, Iheanacho has a head for heading the ball." Tang Long also called out to Nasri.