Chapter 366 364: I’m Waiting for Your Challenge on Your Home Turf!

Once again, Li Ang had successfully united all Manchester City fans... in collective outrage against him.

It couldn't be helped. In his post-match interview after the Stoke City game, the way he expressed his anticipation for facing Manchester City was a little too "direct."

No wonder City fans lost their minds across every major forum.

After all, this season Manchester City had pulled off twelve consecutive wins to start the league — a surge of momentum greater than the past few seasons combined!

Right now, every club and player in the Premier League spoke about them with awe.

Every English media outlet mentioned them with admiration and expectation.

They were getting used to being respected, praised, and placed high above.

It was the same path Chelsea had taken a few seasons ago during their dominant rise:

Terrifying winning streaks, defeating powerful opponents, and using relentless results to conquer all doubters.

Now City had nearly perfectly replicated Chelsea's old path — and confidence among City fans was naturally soaring.

But then Li Ang, with just three simple words — "Very, very, very excited" — shattered their fantasy and dragged them back to reality.

City fans were instantly reminded of the fear Chelsea had imposed on them over the past two seasons...

How could they stand for that?!

Soon, City fans labeled Li Ang as "disrespectful" and "arrogant."

Yet, ironically, Li Ang's public image wasn't damaged at all.

As some neutral Premier League fans questioned:

"Shouldn't City fans first recognize their actual standing before accusing Li Ang of disrespect?

Chelsea and Li Ang are the reigning champions!

Manchester City still need to prove themselves by winning key head-to-head matches — especially against Chelsea — to truly cement their position."

"They're currently top of the league, yes, but not even a third of the season has passed.

Win the Premier League title first, and then we'll talk about demanding respect from Li Ang..."

With remarks like these, City fans who had hoped for support from other fanbases ended up even more frustrated.

Meanwhile, despite the raging public opinion, both Chelsea and City's players remained silent and calm.

After the twelfth round of the Premier League, another international break arrived, and many key players from both teams were called up for national duty.

That guaranteed that both squads would be affected — tired players needing rest, and even possible injuries.

Mourinho and Guardiola had no time to worry about online drama.

If anything, they wished they could clone themselves to personally supervise their players' national teams.

Thus, when asked about the controversy during the press conferences before Round 13, both managers appeared puzzled.

Guardiola said:

"Honestly, I haven't been following online discussions lately. Preparing to face a strong team like Chelsea requires extensive tactical work —

In fact, I haven't had a proper rest for three days.

Fans' concerns are understandable, but there's no real grudge between us and Chelsea.

We're competitors, but we respect each other.

I even called José before the match — maybe after the game, we'll even share a drink in Manchester..."

Mourinho echoed:

"Pep understands me.

I've never shown arrogance toward any opponent, and my players also respect every rival.

Of course, fans are free to express themselves, and I understand how important this match is to them.

I hope we can deliver a truly spectacular match for all the fans."

Both managers were tactful and diplomatic.

But despite the calm words, both understood:

This battle would be full of fireworks.

After all, Manchester City weren't chasing top four —

They had the same ambition as Chelsea: total dominance in England.

And beyond England, they both craved Champions League glory.

The Middle Eastern billionaires pouring endless money into Manchester City weren't doing it to finish second in the Premier League or bow out in the Champions League quarterfinals!

They wanted titles — just like Chelsea.

Thus, there was no retreat in their head-to-head clash.

One side would move forward, stepping over the other to become king — or be crushed and left behind.

This outcome was inevitable, slogans or no slogans.

Li Ang's anticipation wasn't arrogance.

It was genuine excitement for a worthy battle.

Just like before facing peak Barcelona or Bayern Munich, Li Ang had shown the same fire and hunger.

It was not about disrespect — it was about recognition.

If Manchester City were still as weak as two seasons ago, Li Ang wouldn't have bothered to express any anticipation.

But now, with their dominant form, City had truly ignited Li Ang's desire for a fierce, head-to-head clash.

He wanted to face a Guardiola-coached team —

a team fully molded by the master himself —

and test himself once again!

Ever since Guardiola lost control of the Barcelona dressing room and left the club, Li Ang had been waiting for this day.

He also looked forward to seeing Klopp's Liverpool and Guardiola's City rise quickly.

Because standing alone at the top... was a lonely place.

Back when Mourinho's Real Madrid rose to challenge Barcelona's dominance,

when Bayern Munich under Heynckes was a powerhouse,

there was never a shortage of mighty opponents.

But Chelsea's current rise felt too smooth — blessed by timing and circumstance.

When Chelsea reclaimed the Premier League title, Manchester United's dynasty had collapsed.

Liverpool had languished for years.

Arsenal had no hope of revival.

Only Manchester City, still developing, could compete.

And even then, Mourinho had fully cracked Guardiola's tactical style.

In Europe, Real Madrid's power waned after their locker room chaos and the departures of Mourinho and Li Ang.

Barcelona's self-destruction ended their era of possession dominance.

Bayern should have ruled Europe...

but after Heynckes retired, Bayern's upper management wrecked it all, tearing apart a ready-made dynasty.

Chelsea's simultaneous rise across the Premier League and Champions League truly made it hard for fans not to sigh and say, "It's all about perfect timing!"

It was destined to be Chelsea's era of dominance.

Of course, the fact that Chelsea's rise coincided with the decline of Europe's other giants inevitably led some fans to downplay their success.

But Li Ang never paid any mind to such arguments.

To him, it was all sophistry.

After all, if Real Madrid and Bayern lost their control over Europe, it simply meant opportunities were equally available for all emerging teams.

If others failed to seize those opportunities — was it because they didn't want to?

No — it was because they couldn't.

Chelsea took their chance and ascended to the throne.

Being envied was only natural.

Li Ang's only complaint was that there weren't enough strong opponents to challenge them.

He had always yearned for fresh challenges and powerful adversaries.

And Manchester City, though they seemed similar on the surface, had transformed completely under Guardiola's leadership.

Li Ang had already felt the dramatic change during the Community Shield match before the season started.

He used to joke that Chelsea, under Mourinho, played like "cultured thugs."

Now, Manchester City had taken the opposite path —

they had become "thuggish intellectuals" under Guardiola!

Li Ang loved seeing his rivals evolve.

He was eager to find out how much trouble this "street-smart" Manchester City could bring him.

On the afternoon of November 21st, filled with anticipation, Li Ang and his teammates stepped into the Etihad Stadium to face City away from home.

This was a clash every Premier League fan had been waiting for!

Both teams were still unbeaten in the league.

Chelsea: 11 wins, 1 draw.

Manchester City: a terrifying 12 straight wins to start the season!

At the season's start, Manchester's local media had doubted Guardiola's heavy use of youth and new signings.

But after 12 consecutive victories, they now practically worshipped him.

Results spoke louder than anything.

With such dominance, even if Guardiola fielded 11 academy kids, the English media wouldn't dare utter a complaint.

And players like Sterling, initially criticized after his transfer, had exploded with form:

Starting all 12 league games, racking up 4 goals and 5 assists!

Sané, rotating from the right wing, had also delivered 3 goals and 2 assists, becoming another fan favorite.

Still, while Manchester's media heaped praise on Sterling, Liverpool fans felt a complicated mixture of hatred and regret.

Maybe more regret — at their club's failure to retain talent.

When even Suarez had fought to leave, how could a young Sterling resist the temptation of bigger opportunities?

Now, Sterling was thriving under Guardiola's full trust, reaching new career heights.

He firmly believed this Manchester City could go toe-to-toe with Chelsea.

But under Guardiola's orders, City's players refused to speak to the media before the match.

Otherwise, Sterling would have dared to issue a direct challenge to Chelsea.

Yet when he saw Li Ang leading Chelsea onto the field, Sterling's inflated confidence deflated slightly.

After all, it wasn't just City's players who suffered from "Li Ang Syndrome."

Countless young English stars had been schooled by Li Ang over the past two seasons.

And Sterling was very much among them.

Staring at Li Ang's towering, confident figure, Sterling wanted to meet his gaze but ultimately looked down, biting his lip and silently following his teammates.

Li Ang sensed Sterling's subtle glance but didn't care.

After the pre-match ceremonies, he instinctively tightened the captain's armband on his arm, gathered his teammates, and gave one final shout to pump them up!

At 3 PM London time, the Premier League's biggest clash kicked off!

City, confident at home, immediately tried to press Chelsea back with probing attacks.

From the lineups, City's squad was almost identical to the one that had faced Chelsea in the Community Shield:

The front three: Sterling, Agüero, and Silva.

Midfield: Fàbregas, Gündoğan, and Fernandinho.

Defense: Mangala replaced the injured Otamendi.

Chelsea also lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

After another exhausting international break, Mourinho had rotated some starters:

De Bruyne and Thiago Silva didn't start.

But in midfield, the key trio of Matić, Kroos, and Li Ang remained intact.

From the outset, Chelsea prioritized defense.

In midfield, they deployed a strangling, grinding defensive setup.

City only managed to string together a few minutes of possession before Li Ang seized the moment for a fast counterattack!

He combined with Kroos for a quick one-two, leaving Fàbregas trailing, then drove straight toward City's defensive core.

However, faced with Fernandinho and Gündoğan closing him down, Li Ang couldn't penetrate the box.

Instead, from 32 meters out, he unleashed a fierce long-range shot!

Though the angle wasn't particularly tricky, the sheer power forced City's veteran goalkeeper —

Li Ang's old acquaintance, Bravo — to react cautiously.

Bravo quickly adjusted his footwork, moving conservatively but securely, and parried Li Ang's cannon shot out for a corner!

The roar of tens of thousands of City fans echoed throughout the stadium.

Li Ang saw Bravo's steady save and shook his head with a smile.

City's defense had clearly improved from the past two seasons —

they were quicker to recover and marked Li Ang far tighter.

But with that one blistering counterattack and shot, Li Ang had sent a message to all of Manchester City:

I'm back.

And I'm waiting for your challenge — on your home turf!

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