The path to becoming a football legend began with being ousted from Carrington by Manchester United.

In the following days, Manchester City's three key players, Lin Yi, Aguero, and David Silva, seemed to have traveled back to an ancient private school, with the sounds of wind, rain, and reading filling the air.

Taking advantage of the international break, Pellegrini, who had just taken over the team, ignited his first major initiative.

He required the three men to stay at the Carrington training base every day and memorize the various running routes he designed himself.

If Pellegrini's strikerless tactics are to be put into practice on the training field, it will have to wait until Silva and Aguero recover from their injuries. The Chilean coach, unwilling to waste time, simply treats the three as students and has them memorize the lesson together.

In terms of reading and learning ability, no other nation, country, or race in the world can compare with the Chinese nation.

So this is what Manchester City's tactical analysis room looks like.

"David, I've always thought you were exceptionally smart, the epitome of playing with your brain. You haven't even memorized these passing lanes yet? That won't do. Aren't you our commander?"

"You little mule, did Patton step on your foot and splatter your brains? When I cut diagonally to the right, shouldn't you have been running laterally to the left? You went straight in and bumped into me, didn't you? You really want to stick close to me?"

"Tsk tsk tsk!"

"Ouch!"

"I can't bear to look anymore! I can't bear to look anymore!"

"If you two were studying in China, you'd probably be kept in school and made to stand as punishment every day."

They couldn't memorize texts, they couldn't win arguments, and they couldn't fight. Silva and Aguero only had two good legs combined, so they couldn't run away even if they wanted to. They could only helplessly accept Lin Yi's mockery and torment.

This situation lasted for nearly a month.

Once Silva and Aguero removed their protective gear and began low-intensity ball training, the situation completely reversed.

"Lin, you're too slow. If Sergio moves, you have to move too."

"No, Lin, running like that would be offside!"

"You think you're so great? Turns out all you can do is talk the talk?"

"Oh dear, oh dear, can't watch this? Is this Manchester City's starting center forward?"

The two had just recovered, and Lin Yi, fearing for his life, couldn't use his best over-the-shoulder throw, allowing them to turn the tide of the battle.

What's most infuriating is that these two don't distinguish right from wrong. Sometimes it's clearly not Lin Yi's fault, but as long as there's a mistake in the positioning of the three of them, they'll shift the blame to Lin Yi.

"Are you two bastards being unreasonable? Is this all my fault? David was clearly slower than me just now."

Silva and Aguero exchanged a knowing glance.

"Sergio, was I too slow?"

"How could that be, David? Your pass was perfect. It's some shameless people trying to shirk responsibility."

Despite the arguments and bickering, thanks to the thorough preparations made over the past month, the three of them had already mastered the art of positioning and switching places with ease in less than a week.

He is even better than other players who can rely on match experience. After all, there is an insurmountable mountain in Manchester City's current squad that can participate in matches - Mario Balotelli. It is really asking too much of him to understand such complex tactics in a short period of time.

As a result, Manchester City's performance fluctuated greatly over the course of nearly a month.

They defeated Newcastle United 3-1 in the 12th round of the league.

In the Champions League match where they drew 1-1 away to Napoli, Lin Yi was available to play. Despite being the only one carrying the team, he helped score the equalizer.

Back in the league, Lin Yi, who was still serving his suspension, watched from the stands as his team suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat away to Liverpool, their first loss of the season.

Following that, in the 14th round, Manchester City defeated Norwich 4-1 at home.

In the 15th round, Manchester City suffered a heartbreaking 1-2 defeat at Stamford Bridge, highlighting the impact of the absence of three key players. Manchester City is currently unable to compete in tough matches. If Tottenham hadn't suffered a surprising defeat to Stoke City in this round, their top spot in the league would have changed hands.

Even so, Manchester City's lead has been reduced to just one point, with Tottenham and Manchester United tied on 36 points and poised to overtake Manchester City at any moment.

At this time, Aguero and Silva had just begun to resume training and would need at least one to two weeks before they could play again. Lin Yi also had two games left in his suspension.

In the 16th round, Manchester City hosted Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium. Pellegrini had no choice but to field a formation with three defensive midfielders, determined to fight back. In the end, they managed a 0-0 draw, at least securing one league point.

Unfortunately, both Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur won their matches this round, and both have surpassed Manchester City in the standings.

However, Pellegrini has no time to deal with this for the time being, because Manchester City will play their last Champions League group stage match at home against Bayern Munich, who have already qualified for the knockout stage.

Manchester City are currently second in the group with 7 points, followed by Napoli with 5 points and Villarreal with 4 points.

If Manchester City wants to take control of the game, they must avoid losing at home and then advance by overtaking Napoli based on head-to-head results.

If they lose, then the outcome of the other match will be crucial. If Napoli defeats Villarreal, Manchester City will be eliminated and relegated to the Europa League.

The good news is that Lin Yi received disciplinary action from the English Football Association, which will not affect his participation in the Champions League.

The bad news is that, according to the team doctor's diagnosis, as a precaution, David Silva and Aguero should wait another week and then gradually return to the field as substitutes.

Out of a sense of responsibility to the players, Pellegrini excluded them from the squad despite their objections.

Since the Bundesliga has just entered its winter break, Bayern Munich players will be on holiday immediately after this Champions League group stage match, so there is no question of them conserving their strength and fielding a rotated lineup because they have already qualified for the knockout stage.

Manchester City will face the Bundesliga giants led by Robben and Ribery.

This match will determine whether Manchester City's Champions League campaign can continue this season. Lin Yi will lead the team alone to challenge the Bundesliga giants without the help of Aguero and Silva.

Since it was a home game and the Premier League had entered the grueling Christmas schedule, Pellegrini did not choose to gather the players together the night before the match, but instead let everyone go home and get a good night's sleep.

Knowing the importance of this match, Emma nestled in Lin Yi's arms and behaved very well, without overstepping any boundaries.

It wasn't until just before they went to sleep that Emma, ​​who had held back all night, cautiously shared a passionate kiss with Lin Yi before bed.

Just as their lips met, a long-lost voice rang in Lin Yi's mind.

"The temporary instance: The perfect end and redemption mission of a master is about to begin. Please prepare yourself."

"5......4......"

"Holy crap!" Lin Yi jumped in surprise and pushed away Emma Watson, who was entangled with him.

"3......2......1!"

Amid Emma's complex gaze, filled with resentment, anger, confusion, and bewilderment, Lin Yi's consciousness was drawn into a temporary instance.

Berlin Olympic Stadium, 2006.