Chapter 528: Chapter 528

For the first game of 2016, he could confirm all the starting positions except for the center forward, on which he deliberated for a long time, finally choosing a compromise.

He decided to have Bony and Agüero each play 45 minutes.

Bony would play the first half, Agüero the second half. The source of this content ɪs novel⁂fire.net

It was easy with Bony, as a player who had suddenly risen to prominence, he was surely keeping a very low profile.

As for Agüero, Pellegrini had a ready excuse, which was that a player just recovering from an injury shouldn’t play too many minutes.

This equal split of 45 minutes was also a chance for Pellegrini to continue evaluating the two forwards.

In the player tunnel.

Players from both teams lined up, ready to go.

With the Christmas holiday over, many working professionals are struggling with how to transition back to work with high spirits.

But for Premier League players, this problem doesn’t exist.

Because the Premier League has no winter break, even during the New Year they’re working, they’re already used to it~

Players moved their heads and shoulders, occasionally twisting their ankles, getting ready for the first big fight of the new year.

Especially those European international players on the team.

This year the European Cup was about to start, and on the stands, who knows how many national team scouts were secretly observing the players’ performances.

They can’t slack off when it’s time to perform well!

Just as Gualin, Tang Long, and Ranocchia, two former Inter Milan teammates, were exchanging pleasantries—

A player in a Tottenham white jersey snuck by, hunched over, as if stealing past people.

Gualin immediately recognized the small French midfielder, Nasri.

He wasn’t in the starting lineup for this match but was on the bench list, so he would go to the bench first.

"Hey, Nasri, why are you running? Won’t you say a few words to your former Manchester City teammates?"

Crouched Nasri realized he had been spotted, and instead of stopping, sprinted even faster, disappearing down the player tunnel in the blink of an eye.

Gualin wrapped an arm around Ranocchia’s shoulder, smiling at Tang Long.

"That rascal relied on his footwork and nutmegged me in training yesterday. I didn’t hold back either, and in a confrontation, I kicked him hard, sending him flying to the ground, rolling six or seven times."

Tang Long felt a warmth in his heart, tightly gripping Gualin’s hand.

"Aren’t you afraid of Pochettino scolding you for treating your teammate ?"

"I’m not afraid of shit! A temp worker signed for half a season, what am I afraid of? Besides, didn’t you specifically tell me to take good care of this French sunshine boy, hahaha~"

"Watch out for him secretly filming you, that guy holds grudges and is very sneaky," Ranocchia warned.

"Let him try if he dares, I’ll smash his head with one punch!"

Gualin slammed his fist, as large as a sandbag, against the tunnel wall, causing other players to glance over.

Though in the player tunnel, Gualin seemed to be extra friendly with former teammates Tang Long and Ranocchia;

however, once the match began, the Colombian star, playing for Tottenham as a key defensive midfielder, was not soft in confrontation at all!

Only two minutes into the opening, Kane’s powerful shot was blocked to the baseline by Ranocchia’s outstretched leg.

Tottenham got a corner opportunity.

Eriksson, taking the corner, stood in the corner of the field, eyes firm and focused.

He took a deep breath, then sprinted for the run-up, swinging his thigh, launching the ball fiercely into Manchester City’s penalty area!

The ball was like a white lightning streak, carving a bizarre arc through the air, the speed incredibly fast and the trajectory so erratic that Manchester City’s defenders struggled to predict its drop point.

Gualin and Ranocchia both jumped, with Gualin leaping high, his arms extending forcefully like eagle wings!

Using his arms, he cleverly narrowed the height gap between himself and the taller Ranocchia.

Though he didn’t hit the ball, his descending body, however, swung his right arm up like an uncontrolled missile, striking Ranocchia hard on the neck.

The Italian defender was in great pain.

His neck felt scorched by fire, his throat like something was stuck, making breathing laborious and rapid, clearly indicating the severity of the blow!

As a professional player, Gualin was utterly diligent, with the sole purpose on the field of helping Tottenham win the game.

"Hey, Aren’t you pretty tall, Andrei? How come you’re weak like a girl? Get up, stop pretending!"

Gualin even began mocking Ranocchia, who was lying on the ground.

Kompany rushed over, shoving Gualin more than two meters away from his teammate.

If it were another Tottenham player, like the Korean star Son Heung-min, he would surely be holding his face, rolling on the ground, matching it with agonizing screams, trying to coax out a yellow card.

But Gualin wasn’t into those antics, heading back and bumping heads with Kompany, angrily spraying words.

The referee blew his whistle, handing each a yellow card.

Tang Long was scratching his head on the side, thinking.

Why does Gualin always act like he’s in a fight every time I see him play?

He remembered the first round of the Premier League, shortly after he joined Manchester City, injuring his back in a clash with Gualin, an injury that hasn’t fully healed, occasionally recurring, causing him discomfort.

Tang Long decided to take this match as an opportunity to teach Gualin a lesson, to make him remember!

Let him experience the pain I’ve endured.

Once this chance is gone, it’s likely there won’t be another against Tottenham until the next season.

At the 16th minute of the first half.

Manchester City’s goalkeeper Caballero hit a goal kick.

The ball flew toward Tang Long.

Caballero’s kick was accurate, targeting Tang Long at the front.

Gualin was also cautious in guarding Tang Long, aiming to intercept the link between Manchester City’s backfield and Tang Long.

"Where are you going!"

Gualin immediately stuck to Tang Long’s back, jumping up intending to press him down, fiercely pushing him back into Manchester City’s half to disrupt the attack!

Tang Long was prepared.

He lowered his head slightly, his chin subtly tucked, cleverly avoiding Gualin’s arms that were spread open like a vice-grip;

At the same time, he jumped up, but as he did, he cleverly controlled his effort, deliberately making his jump height seem insufficient, giving the impression he couldn’t compete with Gualin, landing before him.

Although Gualin headed the ball, as he landed, his back crashed onto Tang Long.

In mid-air, Gualin felt a hit in his waist by someone.

Originally thinking he would land smoothly, he found his body twisted by a powerful force, turning 180 degrees, spinning like an uncontrolled top in the air.

Subsequently, his back landed heavily on the ground, the impact making the ground tremble slightly;

The force was so great his body bounced twice on the turf like a ball, scattering a spray of grass patches!

Fortunately, Tang Long had held back while confronting Gualin, otherwise, with Gualin’s airborne imbalance, a strong nudge from someone might have made his fall even worse.

So the referee only gave a warning, not a yellow card to Tang Long.

However, due to a lack of preparation, Gualin’s back and waist still hurt badly, and Tottenham’s team doctor came on to assist him off for treatment.

Gualin’s left hand clutched his waist, his fingers white from the force;

His right hand grasped his back, attempting to alleviate the intense pain surging like a tide.

In the cold winter, sweat dotted his forehead as he made hissing sounds, constantly sucking in cool air.

"Damn, got hit by Tang, that guy’s even sneakier than Ranocchia!"