Chapter 425: Son Heung-min Scores on His Debut!

Chapter 425: Son Heung-min Scores on His Debut!

After Manchester United's match ended, their fans turned their attention to the match between their rivals, Manchester City, and Chelsea. This was a clash of titans and the focal point of this round in the Premier League. If City couldn't win at home, it would be the first time in two years that United would surpass City on the league table.

Although the season had just started and an early lead didn't determine the final outcome, for United fans, this moment had immense symbolic significance. It represented their potential to overtake City and rise again!

However, to their disappointment, Chelsea was outplayed by City at the Etihad Stadium. In the first half, Lin Quan and De Bruyne both scored. In the second half, Agüero added another goal. During injury time, Chelsea's goalkeeper Courtois made a mistake, fouling Lin Quan who was storming into the penalty area. The referee immediately showed a red card, sending Courtois off and awarding City a penalty.

Lin Quan didn't take the penalty himself but gave the opportunity to Joshua Kimmich, who was making his debut for the team.

"Boss, is this really okay? Maybe you should take it," Kimmich said nervously, surprised that the team leader would give him this chance. He felt honored but also unworthy.

"It's fine. Even if you miss, we're already up 3-0," Lin Quan reassured him with a pat on the shoulder. Kimmich had come on as a substitute in the 83rd minute, but his performance was unremarkable due to nerves. However, Lin Quan had seen his potential during training, especially his ability to cross after a dribble. If he could perform well, he could become a key player on City's flank.

With Lin Quan's encouragement, Kimmich nodded firmly and stepped up to take the penalty. He noticed Chelsea's substitute goalkeeper, Jamal Blackman, looked even more nervous than him, which gave him confidence.

Blackman, who had been thrust into the game due to Courtois' red card, was not ready for such a high-pressure situation. He was only 21 and had never played for Chelsea before. Facing a penalty on his debut was a nightmare.

Kimmich cleverly varied his run-up, sending Blackman the wrong way and calmly slotting the ball into the net. The crowd erupted in applause and cheers. Although it was just a penalty, the fans warmly welcomed the young player. They trusted Guardiola's judgment in nurturing young talents, as evidenced by players like Kanté, who had already cemented his place in the team.

The 4-0 scoreline was a blow to Chelsea fans. After being held to a draw at home by Swansea in the previous match, they now faced a crushing defeat against the defending champions. This marked Chelsea's worst start in nearly a decade, compounded by Courtois' suspension for the red card and the injury of their second-choice keeper, Begović.

With both their first and second-choice goalkeepers unavailable, Chelsea had to rely on their third-choice keeper for the next match. Based on Blackman's nervous performance, it was clear he wasn't ready for the responsibility. Chelsea needed to quickly find a reliable goalkeeper to avoid further losses.

Mourinho, who had left Chelsea on bad terms, was delighted. In an interview, he boldly claimed, "The strength lies in Mourinho!" implying that Chelsea's past success was due to his leadership. Although his statement was arrogant, few contradicted him because:

1.      Mourinho was in excellent form at Manchester United, and criticizing him wouldn't gain much support.

2.      Chelsea's performance had significantly declined since Mourinho's departure. Last year, they were league leaders, challenging City until the final moments. This year, they seemed out of the title race from the start.

Under Mourinho's management, Chelsea transformed and became a top club, particularly during his first tenure. So, Mourinho indeed had the right to make such claims.

Chelsea's response to Mourinho's comments was one of discontent. They felt he was taking all the credit, implying they were useless without him. They countered by pointing out that their Champions League victory didn't come under Mourinho's leadership.

As Mourinho and Chelsea exchanged words, Liverpool and Leicester City quietly secured their second consecutive wins. After this round, there were four teams with perfect records: Manchester City, Leicester City, Liverpool, and Manchester United. Despite his bravado, Mourinho's team was only fourth.

...

After the second round of the Premier League, Manchester City quickly traveled to Georgia in the Caucasus region for the UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla, the Europa League champions. Sevilla was a strong team, frequently winning the Europa League, proving they were no pushovers.

The match confirmed Sevilla's strength, but City dominated the first half with goals from Lin Quan, Agüero, and De Bruyne, taking a commanding 3-0 lead.

In the second half, Sevilla mounted a fierce comeback. Banega and Reyes scored consecutively, narrowing the score to 3-2. Manchester City's players had indeed become a bit complacent, thinking they had the game in the bag after leading 3-0 in the first half. However, Sevilla's counterattack served as a wake-up call, reminding them that it was too early to celebrate. If Sevilla continued to score, this match could turn into another "Istanbul Miracle."

The fans at the Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, seeing the underdog Sevilla pressuring the stronger Manchester City, began to cheer for Sevilla. It’s human nature to root for the underdog, hoping to witness a David vs. Goliath scenario. The thought of Sevilla making a miraculous comeback was thrilling for the spectators.

On the sidelines, Guardiola quickly made a tactical adjustment, substituting Kroos with the newly signed Son Heung-min. This move puzzled both the fans and Sevilla’s team, as they couldn’t understand why Kroos was being taken off. When they saw the new player’s Asian features, their interest waned.

"Who is this guy?" they wondered. "He doesn't look like a big deal."

The disappointing performance of Asian teams in last year's World Cup had negatively impacted the general perception of Asian footballers. Although Lin Quan was also of Asian descent, he was seen as an exception because he was trained in Europe and stood out from other Asian players.

Son Heung-min felt disheartened by the crowd's indifferent reaction. Lin Quan noticed and gave him some encouraging words, "Show them what you've got and prove them wrong!"

Son Heung-min, surprised and motivated by the support from his idol Lin Quan, nodded enthusiastically. He vividly remembered their previous encounter in the Bundesliga when Lin Quan played for Werder Bremen and Son for their rivals, Hamburger SV. They had exchanged jerseys after the match, and since then, Son had looked up to Lin as a role model, striving to improve his own game by learning from him.

As Son stepped onto the field, Lin Quan's words of encouragement filled him with determination. He was eager to prove himself and showcase his progress in front of his idol.

Guardiola's tactical intent became clear to Lin Quan: use Son's speed in counterattacks to break through Sevilla's defense. And it worked brilliantly. In the 73rd and 77th minutes, City launched two swift counterattacks. During the first, Son was fouled, and in the second, he outpaced the defender, receiving a well-placed pass to score his first goal for Manchester City.

The crowd at the stadium was in awe. "Who is this guy with such incredible speed? And how did he score so quickly after coming on?" they wondered.

Son's goal not only extended City's lead but also disrupted Sevilla's momentum. With their defense unable to contain Son’s speed, Sevilla found themselves in a dilemma. They couldn't push forward to equalize without risking another counterattack from Son.

This conundrum forced Sevilla into a defensive stance, allowing City to dominate the final minutes of the match. In injury time, Van Dijk headed in a corner to seal the victory at 5-2.

Manchester City successfully defended their UEFA Super Cup title, with Son Heung-min making a memorable debut by scoring a crucial goal and helping to secure the win.