Green Field Eunuch

Chapter 157 The Remarkable Manninger

Shan Yongzhuo's one-on-one shot went directly out of bounds, causing a huge uproar throughout the Al-Ittihad Stadium.

If it were anyone else who missed a one-on-one chance, there wouldn't be much to say; missing a one-on-one is something every striker has experienced.

However, the situation is somewhat different when the person is Shan Yongzhuo.

"What happened? How could a single-handed strike miss?"

"This can't be, am I dreaming?"

"My God, this is a one-on-one situation! How could he possibly miss with a single strike?"

"Did he catch it from Balotelli?"

"..."

The fans were incredulous, after all, in their eyes Shan Yongzhuo was omnipotent, and his one-on-one goal-scoring rate was 100% before, this situation had never occurred before.

The ever-curious English media began offering their own ideological interpretations.

Is this solely to defend Balotelli?

"Perhaps so. It's said they are very close friends."

"Balotelli is definitely trying to tell everyone that missing a one-on-one chance is normal and shouldn't be blamed."

"As a friend, Dan's actions were heartwarming, but this was a goal that sealed the victory, so it's not a good thing for the team."

"I wonder what Mancini will think?"

"..."

In fact, Mancini on the sidelines didn't have the same wild ideas as the English media. Although Shan Yongzhuo hadn't been with Manchester City for very long, Mancini knew him very well.

In Mancini's view, it was perfectly normal for Shan Yongzhuo to miss a one-on-one chance.

"The strength of a one-on-one situation lies in mid-to-long-range shots, not in one-on-one opportunities like this."

"In the situation just now, his shooting angle was blocked, and it was really difficult for him to get past the goalkeeper."

In Mancini's view, although Shan Yongzhuo occasionally displays amazing ball control skills and dribbling ability, he regards that ability as an occasional flash of brilliance.

In his memory, Shan Yongzhuo was mostly a player with poor technique, average speed, and average physique. If it weren't for his amazing shooting skills, such a player would not have been qualified to enter Serie A or the Premier League.

It was only because of his unparalleled shooting skills that Shan Yongzhuo became the world's number one striker.

Judging from the ball's movement just now, Shan Yongzhuo didn't have a flash of brilliance this time, so it's normal that he lost this one-on-one opportunity.

Mancini's assessment was actually quite accurate. Shan Yongzhuo had run out of skills just now. In order to create a one-on-one opportunity and avoid being caught by Juventus players, he ran with almost all his might, and naturally, his touches were also very heavy.

As for getting past Manninger to score into an empty net, given his 60-point spread, it's fair to say he has a chance, but failure is also quite possible.

Dan Yongzhuo was a little annoyed, but he didn't take it to heart.

"After all, I don't have any skills yet. Once I score more goals and raise my points, you'll see how amazing I am!"

Dan Yongzhuo secretly vowed that after improving his endurance, he would also improve his other points, and then he would be truly invincible.

However, Shan Yongzhuo's performance had a significant impact on another person, namely Balotelli.

Balotelli was in a bad mood after being substituted, as he felt he had performed well and had a good chance to score again.

He felt that Mancini must have been very dissatisfied with him because of his missed one-on-one chance in the first half, which is why he chose to substitute him.

"But you can't blame me. How can such a simple goal show how great I, Super Mario, am? I just wanted to score a goal that would shock the world."

Balotelli felt wronged.

But now, seeing Shan Yongzhuo's performance almost identical to his own, Balotelli paused for a moment, then a warm feeling washed over him. "Shan, is he speaking up for me?"

"That's right. Most of the goals he has scored so far have been spectacular. He would definitely not bother to score goals that are not difficult."

"He understood my thinking! And he showed everyone through his actions that Super Mario was right!"

"As expected, geniuses all think alike!"

"Shan, he is my best friend, a friend for life!"

"Perhaps I should treat him to a meal today and find him some of the most beautiful girls!"

"..."

Balotelli was deeply moved. He sat on the sidelines, grinning with his big white teeth, already planning in his mind what kind of beautiful women he should find for Shan Yongzhuo.

If Shan Yongzhuo knew what Balotelli was thinking, he would definitely say, "You're overthinking it. I just can't score."

On the field, Juventus escaped a close call, and their players surrounded Manninger as if praising a hero.

"Alexander, you old bastard, you actually blocked Shan Yongzhuo's single-handed attack!"

"Damn it, you did what no goalkeeper has ever done."

"Amazing, you're a genius!"

"Buffon must be so envious of you. Even he couldn't defend against Shan Yongzhuo's one-on-one chance!"

"..."

The Juventus players' boasting about Manninger left the Austrian goalkeeper quite confused.

"Is this my doing? He already beat me, it seems like he just made a huge mistake..."

Manninger knew exactly what had happened; he had been easily bypassed. It was just that Shan Yongzhuo had made a big mistake, and it had nothing to do with him.

In fact, he just did what any goalkeeper could do.

This is... this is amazing?
Manninger was puzzled, but also very happy.

After all, this was the first goalkeeper to successfully block Shan Yongzhuo's one-on-one shot!
No one would refuse such a title.

In fact, apart from a few intellectually swayed English media outlets, most people attributed the credit to Manninger.

After all, that's Shan Yongzhuo!

The world's number one striker, with a 100% one-on-one scoring rate, and even to date, his career shot conversion rate has reached an astonishing 78%.

Such a high conversion rate is terrifying, especially considering it's a one-on-one situation.

It wasn't that Shan Yongzhuo overshot the mark; how could he have overshot it? It must have been that Manninger's blockade successfully disrupted Shan Yongzhuo's rhythm.

A goalkeeper who can block his one-on-one chance is definitely a great goalkeeper!
"Manninger did what even top goalkeepers like Buffon, Dida, Reina, and Cech couldn't do: he blocked Shan Yongzhuo's one-on-one chance!"

"Although he conceded two goals to Shan Yongzhuo earlier, this defensive play makes him Juventus' best player of the match!"

"In fact, this Austrian goalkeeper has always performed exceptionally well. Perhaps this 33-year-old veteran has made a name for himself in this match?"

The Italian commentator showered Manninger with praise, after all, Juventus' performance in this match wasn't anything to brag about.

The Italians knew how formidable Shan Yongzhuo was; such a one-on-one opportunity was a sure goal for him.

Manninger's successful block of Shan Yongzhuo's one-on-one attack, making him the first person to successfully stop Shan Yongzhuo's shot, became the only thing the Italian media could boast about.

"A remarkable Manninger!"

(End of this chapter)