[Football] Bad Boy Batty

Manchester City's opening match of the new season will be a guest match at the Falmer Stadium to challenge newly promoted Brighton. Brighton is headquartered in a coastal city in southern England. Since the club's logo is designed based on the seagull, Brighton is also affectionately called the Seagull Army by fans.

Brighton has been floating in England's lower leagues since 1983, until last season when they finally reached an exciting turning point - winning the Championship runner-up and returning to England's top league after 34 years.

The fans of the Seagulls were very excited and packed the home stadium early in the morning to support their favorite team with all their might. However, most of them were still rational and did not think that their team could get any advantage from last season's Premier League champions Manchester City.

据统计16-17赛季曼城是五大联赛中火力最强的球队，总进球数达到了惊人的156粒，比排在第2位的拜仁多了整整13个。再加上有新援的加入, 这导致在各地盘|口刚刚开启时曼城的名字就直冲赔率榜首, 成为新赛季欧冠和英超夺冠的大热门。

Even Amazon, which produced a season documentary for them, said it would be a shame not to commemorate the championship season.

……

"Have you talked to that new guy named Zinchenko, Kevin? I feel like he doesn't like me very much." In the player tunnel, Batistuta chatted with De Bruyne next to him. "And he looks a lot like you, with the same golden hair and the same white glow. Speaking of which - could he be your brother who is away from home?"

"We are not alike at all." De Bruyne slapped Batistuta lightly with some condemnation, "And he is not a newcomer, he came earlier than you, and was loaned out to practice last season before you came."

"Really?" Batistuta grabbed De Bruyne's fingers and played with them. "Honestly, why doesn't he like me? The day before yesterday, I went to him to ask for the ball, and he threw the ball on the ground and walked away as if he saw a ghost."

"Maybe he's shy, or maybe his English is not good." De Bruyne stretched his shoulders. "I heard that the club recently found an English teacher for him to learn."

"You shouldn't just turn around and leave when you see me." Batty shook his head.

"Hey! What are you talking about?" Aguero smiled and squeezed in between them, then put his hands on their shoulders, one on each side, and pinched Batistuta's face. "Cheer up, friends, this is the opening game of the new season!"

Batistuta 'beeped' twice and shook off Aguero's arm. "Speaking of Zinchenko," he replied, "Have you talked to him, Kun? He doesn't seem to like me."

"Olek, he's a good kid." Aguero shrugged. "He looks a little introverted and shy, but that's because he just returned and doesn't speak much English. His teacher told me that he is very enthusiastic. He won't be like this when he gets to know him better."

De Bruyne nudged Batistuta with his elbow and raised his eyebrows. What did he say? It was because of the language. Batistuta curled his lips and still thought that this matter had nothing to do with the language. Aguero looked at Batistuta, then at De Bruyne, and finally scratched his chin and decided not to continue the topic.

After once again reaching out his hand to hook the boy's neck and bring him into his arms, the Argentine striker patted his chest in a comforting manner, "You need to adapt to the new position, don't worry, you can do it." He kissed Batistuta's hair, "Come on, I believe in you."

……

Yes, new location.

In today's game, Guardiola used the 352 formation that he had been dreaming of for more than half a season. Ederson started as goalkeeper as soon as he arrived; Otamendi, Stones, and Kompany formed the three central defenders; Fernandinho was the single defensive midfielder, David Silva and De Bruyne were the dual cores in the midfield, Danilo was on the left, and Kyle Walker was on the right; Aguero was at the front, and Batistuta was placed in the attacking midfielder position.

What surprised the fans the most was that Batty actually accepted it with pleasure.

Although Batistuta often moved from the wing to this position to receive or even shoot last season, he is still a winger after all, mostly on the wing. Switching to the attacking midfielder all of a sudden may disrupt his playing style and have a negative effect.

The fans' guesses were quite accurate, and there was no negative effect, but Batistuta was a little confused in the attacking midfielder position, and he played a little confused in the first half. Sometimes he didn't know how to deal with the ball after receiving it, and he had a tendency to develop like Real Madrid's midfielder Toni Kroos, who would pass the ball back when he was undecided.

In the 16th minute, Manchester City got a set piece in the frontcourt. De Bruyne kicked the ball to the front point, and Batistuta's header went wide of the goal. 10 minutes later, Aguero received Fernandinho's overhead pass and passed it to Batistuta, but Batistuta was half a beat slow to react. When he stopped the ball and shot, Brighton's back line was already in place, and the ball was blocked by the defender.

In the 33rd minute, Kyle Walker assisted and made a cross from the right to the front of the goal. Aguero followed up with a close-range header from the middle, but was saved by the Brighton goalkeeper. Batistuta was unguarded behind him, and his follow-up shot missed the target and the ball slipped out of the goal.

"Bati! That was almost an empty goal for you!" Aguero complained regretfully, looking at his cheek, "Don't come at me again, cheer up, you can do it!"

Batistuta looked up and shook his hair, suppressed the wrong emotions in his heart and gestured to his teammates to apologize. This time it was his fault. Then, feeling the various colors thrown at him, he ran back to his position.

Well, attacking midfielder.

Still not familiar enough.

[Manchester City's Brazilian Rose looked uncomfortable in her new position and failed to show her expected form.] The commentator and the commentator also found the problem. [Guardiola may have to think about letting Batistuta give way to Kyle Walker on the right side. Batistuta is world-class in the right winger position. His performance last season was unparalleled.]

The first half was not a one-man show for Manchester City either. Brighton also had several good chances, but Ederson performed bravely, blocking the opponent's forward's shot with a high catch to keep Manchester City's goal safe.

At the end of the first half, both sides drew 0-0.

……

"I'm not suitable for attacking midfielder." Batty said, "I was just sleepwalking on the court just now."

"It's too early to draw conclusions even though the game isn't over yet," Guardiola soothed. "This is the opening game of our new season. I want to win, the fans want to win, everyone wants it, but it doesn't matter. We don't have to score, understand? I want you to adapt more than scoring goals."

"adapt?"

"Yes, you are doing well as a winger. You are fast, have good skills and are still young, but you have to know that there are always younger people waiting for this position. One day you can no longer rely on speed and youth to force overtake on the wing," Guardiola said earnestly. "You have to adapt to playing with your brain, analyzing the situation and creating more opportunities for yourself and your teammates."

"I'm 18 years old and I can still play for at least 5 or 6 seasons with my speed and physique," Batistuta said. "This is too early. I shouldn't have agreed to it during the pre-match deployment." "No, not early at all. I know you like playing on the wing and can play well on the wing, but listen to me, from this season on you have to adapt to every position in the frontcourt." Guardiola pressed Batistuta's shoulder. "You have to do this, do you understand Batistuta? Pass the ball, receive the ball, distribute the ball, expand your vision, your ceiling is much higher than this, I would rather let you lose a goal for the sake of the future."

Batty looked at the head coach for more than ten seconds and then nodded.

Adapting to a new position means learning new things. There is always a process from unfamiliarity to proficiency. He understands Guardiola.

"I understand," he said. "I will do as you say."

……

After the change of sides, although the short conversation of just a few minutes would not bring about any qualitative changes in Batistuta, his state of mind was indeed much more stable.

Isn’t it just adaptation? Okay, no problem. This little thing won’t be difficult for him.

The amazing thing is that when Batistuta stopped thinking about scoring, the goddess of luck who controls goals seemed to finally notice him, and a jaw-dropping goal appeared again.

In the 53rd minute, Manchester City attacked from the backcourt. Batistuta retreated to support the attack and made a two-pass combination with De Bruyne in the middle, going straight in from Brighton's flank.

Brighton adopted a human wave tactic, trying every means to block Batistuta's passes or direct shots. The first half gave them hope. Perhaps last season's Premier League champions could be tied by them at home. If they couldn't get 3 points, 1 point would be fine.

However, today the goddess of luck was not on their side.

Unable to find an opportunity, Batistuta controlled the ball and passed it to Silva who came in. The penalty area was full of people. Silva found the right opportunity and shot. The ball hit the post and bounced back into the field, and then for some reason, it flew towards Batistuta.

"Bati!"

Two tall Brighton defenders sandwiched Batistuta, leaving him no room to turn around or get away. Even if he turned his head as hard as he could, he could only see a corner of the goal.

Forget it, Batistuta thought, just take a quick kick, I don’t care about scoring anyway.

He lifted his foot backward, like a scorpion raising its stinger to hunt or warn its enemy, only with more dexterity and liveliness. At the moment of touching the ball, Batistuta swung his ankle and used his heel to make a scorpion-like volley shot.

Under the gaze of all the players, coaches and fans at the scene, as if the slow-motion button was pressed, the ball drew a sharp straight line in the air, rushed into the net, and turned twice before falling to the ground.

There was a moment of silence in Falmer Stadium, and then a thunderous cheer broke out.

Even the home fans couldn't help but stand up and applaud for this wonderful goal.

"The ball goes in!!!" The commentator jumped up from his chair excitedly, "It's perfect, I can't believe my eyes, Manchester City's first goal of the season has appeared! I'm sure this goal is the best of the week, there is nothing more exciting than it! 1-0, 54 minutes, Batistuta opened the scoring for Manchester City!"

Batistuta smiled slightly, but he actually didn't want to score a goal.

……

From the 75th to the 89th minute, Manchester City made consecutive substitutions, Bernardo Silva replaced Batistuta, Laporte replaced Kompany, giving the new players who joined the team in the summer transfer window the opportunity to feel the game.

In the end, thanks to Batistuta's wonderful scorpion kick and the opponent's own goal in the last moments, Manchester City won the game away from home without any danger and got off to a good start in the season.

Of course, they had to celebrate after winning. That night, they kept making noise until the early morning before going home. In addition, Batistuta had something more important to do, or to be more precise, he and Ederson, they wanted to take this opportunity to complete the unfinished prank.

The next morning, Ederson drove Batistuta to have a 'date' with B Silva.

According to the plan, they would take a picture of the other person's surprised expression when he saw that the goddess he had been dreaming of was actually Batti, and then turn around and laugh at him.

Seat B was already sitting there, looking relatively calm. He ordered a cup of coffee and was drinking it, as if to relieve his tension. He kept shaking his legs and checking his phone.

profound--

Poor Bernardo, he thought he would be waiting for a passionate girl.

Batistuta put on sunglasses and prepared to get out of the car, but at this moment, Ederson suddenly called him.

"Wait a minute." The Brazilian goalkeeper pulled out a long wavy wig from a bag in the back seat and threw it into Batistuta's arms. Its color was exactly the same as Batistuta's real hair. "I went to many stores to customize this for you. Put it on quickly. When he finds out it's you, Bernardo will be shocked!"

Batty raised his brow.

what!
(End of this chapter)