Chapter 139: Battle for the Etihad Stadium

There is a lot of pressure on Manchester City, to be precise, there is a lot of pressure on Pep Guardiola!

Six points behind Chelsea with one game less, and six points behind Manchester United, who also have one game less!

This make-up match was placed in midweek, and other Premier League teams basically did not have a game task, so this midweek game was in the spotlight.

Fans of both Chelsea and Liverpool are looking forward to the result they want.

Chelsea fans will certainly be hoping that United can win this game, and although it will put Manchester City close to the two teams in front of them, at least Chelsea will be able to level the top of the table and take the initiative on the road to the title.

If Manchester United wins, Chelsea's Manchester United point difference will become three points again, although Chelsea still has a chance to talk directly to Manchester United, but even if Chelsea can win this game, the two sides will only be evenly divided, and the deuce is of course better than directly overtaking the points.

Antonio Conte's side have been in excellent form this season, they have not been dragged down by the Champions League, and Chelsea, who are focused on the league, are quite strong.

And for Liverpool fans, they still have a faint hope of winning the title.

As the second largest club in England, Liverpool has never won the Premier League, which is the most advantageous weapon for almost all rival teams to ridicule Liverpool.

In 2013, Liverpool were infinitely close to the Premier League trophy, but Gerrard's slip caused Liverpool to miss out on a good chance to reach the top of the Premier League.

But for Liverpool, the giants' quest for the Premier League title never stops.

......

March 10, Manchester, Etihad Stadium.

The confrontation between red and blue is a constant theme in the city, and this time is no exception.

Around the Etihad Stadium is a world of Manchester City fans, and today is their home stadium. In the face of their rivals, Manchester City fans poured out, and even some Manchester City fans who could not get tickets gathered around the stadium to support their team.

The weather wasn't too good, it had just rained this morning, and the sky was still overcast, and the sky was falling from time to time, and the rainy weather in England had made Manchester people accustomed to it.

Pep Guardiola frowned, looking up at the gloomy sky.

"Jose, don't worry, it won't rain heavily today." Arteta knows what Guardiola is worried about. "We don't have to worry about it even if it's raining heavily, the drainage on the pitch is already very good after the renovation of the stadium."

The Etihad Stadium, the Manchester City Stadium, was originally designed for the 2000 Summer Olympics, but Manchester lost the bid. It was later built as a sports venue for the 2002 Commonwealth Games at a cost of £100 million. Later converted to football and the new home of Manchester City, the city moved from Maine Road to Manchester City Stadium in 2003 on a 250-year lease.

After receiving an injection of money from the Arab consortium, Manchester City renovated the Etihad Stadium, and many modern stadium equipment was used on the stadium, which can be said to be one of the most modern stadiums in England.

"Mick, this game is critical." Pep Guardiola certainly knows this, but before the big war, it is inevitable that there will be gains and losses.

Arteta joined Pep Guardiola's coaching staff this season as Pep Guardiola's assistant. The former Arsenal captain was at Manchester City at the time and was involved in Pep Guardiola's side.

"We're ready! Jose! ”

"You're right, we're ready!"

Pep Guardiola nodded, turned and walked into the dressing room, while Arteta immediately beckoned the City players out to warm up on the pitch.

Manchester United, too, have moved into the visiting dressing room, and the players are quickly changing their gear and preparing to go to the pitch for a final warm-up.

"Quick!! Fast!! Guys!! You only have twenty minutes!! ”

Giggs stood in the doorway and shouted. When he was a player, it was always Alex Ferguson who stood at the door shouting, and when Ryan Giggs became a coach, he also unconsciously learned to imitate Ferguson's gestures and even Ferguson's tone.

"Ryan is becoming more and more like an old man," Ashley Young said to Valencia next to him as he changed his shoes.

Now this Manchester United, Ferguson does not have many old courtiers, Valencia and Ashley Young can also be regarded as the veterans of Manchester United's four dynasties, and there are also Carrick, De Gea, Smalling, Phil Jones and others with such qualifications.

At Giggs's urging, the players quickly walked out of the dressing room and onto the pitch.

Manchester United's players are familiar with the stadium and they play at least one game at the stadium every season.

More than 50,000 players have already gathered in the stadium, all of whom are supporters of Manchester City, and the fans of the visiting team can only gather in the corner of the stadium, which is the normal treatment of the visiting team.

The warm-up is over quickly, and when the players reappear in the tunnel, the game will begin!

Players from both sides enter in line.

The Etihad Stadium reverberates with singing!

Manchester City fans held blue scarves alalt and sang "Blue Moon" in unison.

"Blue Moon" is Manchester City's team song, and this "Blue Moon" is a more soothing and soft team song, which is very different from the passionate team songs of many teams. On the field, when many Manchester City fans sing this team song in unison, there will be unexpected pathos, and there will be a different kind of emotion in it.

This soothing song of sympathy made the Manchester City players puff up their chests, Manchester City failed to compete in the Champions League this season, but they also reached the last 16 in the Europa League, after the pre-match mobilization of Pep Guardiola, now the Manchester City players are full of confidence!

Li Qingshan was not touched by this slightly pathetic tune, he was musically illiterate, even if he admitted that this piece was very good, but Li Qingshan would not show mercy because of this.

The outcome of a football match is decided by the efforts of the 22 players on the pitch, and Li Qingshan does not think that the influence of the fans is too great - he is a big heart and is never disturbed by the away fans.

"In the 26th round of the Premier League, the focus of Manchester City and Manchester United has been moved to today, Manchester City will be at home against the city's rival Manchester United, and the result of this game will affect the final outcome of the league to a considerable extent!!" On the commentary bench, Andy Gray was on standby.