Everyone was eagerly anticipating this match, with unprecedented attention!
Under such an atmosphere, the excitement of the fans at the stadium was imaginable; they were more thrilled than anyone!
Unable to control their bodies any longer, they were agitated and seemed to have lost themselves, entrusting their bodies to the entire stadium environment.
The clamor, the cheers of the fans, the occasional screams – everyone could no longer wait!
Let it begin soon!!!
At this moment, the Manchester City players, wearing their classic sky-blue home jerseys, began to emerge from the locker room. Simultaneously, the Arsenal players were also ready.
Both teams walked towards the pitch through the players' tunnel at the same time!
The moment Foden, walking at the very front, appeared in view, the entire stadium erupted!
Red flares were ignited, and smoke instantly filled the entire stadium!
Cao Baming, as usual, emerged at the back of the team, with Messi, who had recently joined the club, right in front of him!
With Ødegaard absent from this match, Arteta directly assigned Messi to the attacking midfielder position, a bold move unprecedented. He believed that even with Messi playing as an attacking midfielder, his long-range shooting ability would still offer opportunities to score and even make him the team's primary offensive player.
In addition, another newcomer, Vinícius, signed in the summer, was on the bench.
The Manchester City players all looked very confident.
After a week of Guardiola's intensive brainwashing, each of them no longer feared Arsenal at all. Seeing the Arsenal players beside them, they felt like ants that could be crushed with a single step, regardless of who it was.
The psychological shadow cast on Manchester City by Cao Baming and Henry's connection at the end of last season had long since vanished. At this very moment, no one was afraid; they were completely unfazed.
All the players had honed a secret martial art: the Iron Head technique, meaning to be stubborn to the end and to fight if displeased!
Cao Baming? What kind of nonsense is that? We don't care about him at all! Even Cao Jiuming wouldn't be useful!
Manchester City was aiming for a clean sheet today; it would be strange if he had a chance to score!
Guardiola also appeared confident. The moment the two managers' eyes met, they both understood quite a bit.
Arteta knew well that the old fox wouldn't go into a battle unprepared. He must have made thorough preparations before coming, which explained his confidence.
And Guardiola was naturally also deeply convinced of victory in this match.
Messi starting was a bit of a surprise to him. However, even Arteta hadn't anticipated Ødegaard's sudden physical discomfort; otherwise, he wouldn't have made such prior arrangements.
But upon seeing Messi, Guardiola showed no hint of fear.
While he admitted Messi was strong, he dared to say there was no one in this world who understood Messi better than him!
Since he understood him, he not only knew how to utilize him well but also how to defend against him and limit him.
The only unstable factor was actually Cao Baming, which was the source of Guardiola's slight apprehension.
Soon, the players arrived on the field.
As they stepped onto the pitch, the fans cheered!
Cao Baming's name was chanted again by the fans, and this time it was something he hadn't expected!
After all, Henry and Messi stood beside him!
Moreover, the fans were shouting his name in Chinese with very accurate pronunciation!
There must have been quite a few fans from Tang Country among them!
He was almost moved to tears!
Cao Baming raised his hands high to express his gratitude to the fans.
Next, his gaze became sharp and cold. The best way to repay them, of course, was to deliver a spectacular match!
Aiming for a clean sheet? Impossible!
Cao Baming had already prepared. As soon as the match started, he would take a shot to shatter their unrealistic fantasies and then play seriously once they sobered up!
The match began, with host Manchester City kicking off first!
Cao Baming waited in the defense, observing, waiting for an opportunity to press forward and make an interception!
The ball was passed among the Manchester City players. With the silky ball control of several midfield maestros, it was unlikely to be won back by teammates.
Cao Baming continued to observe, but the opposing team wasn't advancing at all!
Waiting for an opportunity, but it never came? Could it be that Guardiola, that old fox, had guessed his intentions?
Guardiola, on the sidelines, smiled slightly.
Cao Baming's opening rapid goals had happened no less than three times, so he had naturally studied him specifically.
As long as they could control the ball well in their own half at the start, he wouldn't have this opportunity!
"Heh, kid, you're still too young!"
Seeing Cao Baming at a loss, Guardiola felt smugly triumphant.
Cao Baming on the field had already seen through his intentions. Although his feet remained still, his mind was already pondering a way to break the deadlock.
The pathetic Guardiola actually thought he was at a loss.
About ten seconds later, the ball was highly likely to be transferred to De Bruyne's side. Cao Baming had predicted this early, shifting his gaze in that direction, but his body remained motionless!
To outsiders, he might have seemed to be doing nothing, but in reality, he had already calculated everything clearly.
Ten seconds later, the ball was indeed successfully passed to De Bruyne's feet. After five passes, De Bruyne happened to receive the ball at the position Cao Baming had predicted.
"So obedient, Didi!"
Cao Baming couldn't help but exclaim. A God's-eye view was indeed the most useful talent!
Then, activating the Flying Bird skill, Cao Baming accelerated, covering the ten meters and blocking De Bruyne in just two or three steps.
With a flick of his foot, he dispossessed the ball from his feet and passed it to a teammate.
De Bruyne was stunned. Was he dispossessed just like that?
Guardiola on the sidelines stomped his feet in anger. A basic error! A basic error!
Cao Baming's acceleration time hadn't ended, and he continued to sprint forward. Gündoğan's back pass had a lead of nearly ten meters!
The fans on the sidelines were stunned. Who was this pass for? Gündoğan?
Seeing this pass, Cao Baming's heart was overjoyed.
As expected of you, Gündoğan, you understand me after all!
After starting his sprint, Cao Baming moved with incredible speed, like a sports car shifted to seventh gear, racing across the pitch. The ball was ten meters away from Cao Baming and five meters away from Gündoğan, yet Cao Baming easily reached it while both were chasing!
Only then did the fans on the sidelines understand that the pass was meant for Cao Baming.
Was this something a human could comprehend? It wasn't their fault!
In the blink of an eye, Cao Baming had broken through to the front line, and several Manchester City players converged on him simultaneously.
Cao Baming thought, Manchester City players deserve some respect. Dribbling past them might not be easy, so for safety's sake, it's better to...
"System! Use the Supreme Treasure!"
At about thirty-five meters from the goal, Cao Baming began to dribble horizontally.
The numbers in front of him flickered between thirty and forty.
Indeed, Manchester City's strength was extraordinary. Such low numbers should be attributed to their strong defense.