Manchester City thrashed Everton 6-0 at home!
As soon as the match ended, it caused a sensation across the British internet, triggering massive discussions throughout Europe and even worldwide. Countless fans were stunned by this game.
Their 5-0 win over Blackburn in the first round was already impressive enough, but now, they had dismantled Everton 6-0 at home. Manchester City's start to the new season was simply unbelievable.
Even more astonishing was Gao Shen, who deployed two different tactics and two completely different lineups in just two games. What else could be said except that he was a tactical genius?
The internet was flooded with overwhelming praise for Manchester City, especially for Gao Shen, who was being hailed as a mastermind.
A Manchester City fan left a comment under Gao Shen's tweet:
"When we saw you take over at Manchester City, we saw light and hope. You are our Ultraman!"
This comment quickly gained widespread approval from fans on Twitter.
In English, "Ultraman" is pronounced similarly to "altan," and Manchester City's English abbreviation is "Man City." Additionally, "alt" means "everything" in Danish and "high" in Catalan. This Manchester City fan cleverly played on these meanings, sparking heated discussions and enthusiastic support online.
Despite having only played two games, Manchester City under Gao Shen had already become one of the most exciting teams in the Premier League. They had scored eleven goals and conceded none. This remarkable start not only put them at the top of the league but also made history.
This was the first time in Manchester City's history!
Manchester City fans were celebrating wildly, and even neutral football fans, aside from those supporting City's rivals were full of praise. Many believed that the attacking football displayed in these two matches had left an unforgettable impression.
Beyond fan discussions, journalists sought reactions from prominent football figures such as Gary Lineker, Alan Hansen, and the crew of Match of the Day.
Little did they know, not long after the game ended, the BBC headquarters erupted into cheers from the Match of the Day production team.
…
"According to online public opinion monitoring, ever since we clashed with Gao Shen, discussions about us have remained at a high level. The peak was reached during tonight's match, and the interest is still surging."
Steve Turnbull, the online editor of Match of the Day, was responsible for managing public discussions and handling the program's official Twitter account. He played a crucial role in influencing online narratives.
A top graduate from the Department of Media Studies, Turnbull joined the BBC straight out of university and had been part of the Match of the Day crew since 2006. Over the years, he had become an integral member of the team, driving their online engagement strategy.
"Right now, a large number of fans are demanding that we issue an apology. Personally, I suggest we do it in tomorrow's episode."
Turnbull turned to Alan Hansen as he spoke.
Everyone else, including Lineker and Alan Shearer, also fixed their eyes on Hansen.
The Scotsman shrugged nonchalantly. "I can apologize anytime. That's not an issue. But my question is, will an apology affect the show's popularity?"
"That's the key point," added the show's producer, Ian Finch, his expression serious.
Turnbull pondered for a moment before shaking his head. "There's no definitive way to measure whether an apology will impact viewership. However, public sentiment is overwhelmingly in favor of it. Hansen promised on air that he would apologize if Manchester City topped the table. I believe we should fulfill that promise now. If City loses their lead later, we can adjust our approach accordingly."
Ian Finch nodded. "Alright, then we'll proceed with the apology. Hansen, get ready."
Alan Hansen showed no hesitation. "Fine, I'll prepare my apology."
The room burst into laughter.
"Tonight, we'll post some promotional images on Twitter. Tomorrow morning, we'll reach out to our usual newspaper and online media contacts to create buzz. This should generate a lot of attention. I already have an idea, one of our promotional images will show the three hosts in suits, but Lineker's jacket will be missing."
As soon as Turnbull finished speaking, Ian Finch clapped in approval. "Brilliant idea! I'll get in touch with the newspapers right away."
"We could even turn this into a series," Turnbull continued. "If Manchester City wins their weekend match, we'll remove another item from the picture. If Gao Shen's team actually manages to win six games in a row, then…"
Before he could finish, the room erupted into laughter as everyone turned their gaze toward Lineker. It was as if they were already imagining him in a progressively more casual outfit. Many wondered how the former footballer had maintained his physique so well after retirement.
"Stop looking at me with envy, okay?" Lineker said coolly. "I'll tell you now—this is impossible."
"If you told me that Ferguson's Manchester United could win six in a row, I might believe you. But Manchester City winning six straight in the Premier League? No way. It's incredibly difficult, especially when facing teams like Arsenal and United."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
After all, Manchester City was still a developing team. No matter how capable Gao Shen was, he had only led them to two impressive wins against Blackburn and an Everton side missing key players. But when the season progressed and they encountered powerhouses like Arsenal and Manchester United, the true test would begin.
"I honestly hope City keeps winning," Ian Finch said. "It's so hard to generate hype nowadays. Gao Shen's current popularity is a rare opportunity—we can't waste it."
The room was filled with nods of agreement.
Right now, Gao Shen was the hottest figure in English football.
Last weekend, Match of the Day hit its highest ratings in recent seasons, largely due to Alan Hansen's bold comments about Gao Shen.
Now, after Manchester City's crushing victory over Everton, public interest had soared even higher. With Hansen's apology and the ongoing "Lineker undressing" bet fueling discussions, the show's ratings were bound to hit another record high.
The competition in British sports media was intense.
Aside from Sky Sports, other TV stations that owned broadcasting rights were also taking things seriously. The battle for top football pundits was fierce, with networks frequently trying to poach each other's talent.
And it wasn't just Match of the Day paying close attention, other major broadcasters had also taken action.
Reports suggested that Sky Sports had been attempting to secure an exclusive interview with Gao Shen for some time but had yet to succeed.
Interestingly, since arriving in England, Gao Shen had not granted any formal interviews to UK media, no television appearances, no newspaper interviews, and no magazine features.
Yet, he was undeniably the biggest sensation in the Premier League right now!
…
After leading the team back to Carrington, Gao Shen checked Twitter and saw the latest posts from Match of the Day, Lineker, Alan Hansen, and others.
They seemed worried that Gao Shen might not notice, so they even tagged him directly.
At times, Gao Shen truly admired these British media professionals. They had a remarkable ability to create and shape public narratives, expertly guiding and leveraging public opinion to their advantage.
Of course, this also worked in Gao Shen's favor.
Even though they were capitalizing on his popularity, they were simultaneously helping him build his brand, increasing his commercial value and influence.
And most importantly, the initiative was still in Gao Shen's hands.
If Match of the Day ever did something to upset him and he lashed out, they would likely just take it in stride, spin it into another story, and continue generating headlines.
Of course, if it ever reached that point, it wouldn't benefit Gao Shen either.
Right now, they were riding the wave of his popularity, but at the same time, they were also helping him gain even more exposure and recognition. This was a win-win situation.
As for whether Lineker would actually go through with his streaking bet on live TV, that wasn't something Gao Shen needed to concern himself with.
If anyone should be worried, it should be Match of the Day—or Lineker himself.
Manchester City's two consecutive wins had put them at the top of the table, providing a massive morale boost for the squad. However, beneath these victories, many underlying issues remained.
For instance, Robinho and Robben had yet to fully integrate into the team, and their performances were far from ideal, especially Robben.
He was still adjusting to playing on the right wing and was at a crucial stage in finding his rhythm. What he needed most right now was patience and support.
Gareth Bale played as a left-back in this match. He started off strong but gradually faded as the game progressed. Gao Shen knew he needed to sit down with him, offer encouragement, and help rebuild his confidence.
After all, Bale had been incredibly unlucky.
At Tottenham, he had made 24 appearances without winning a single game. His luck had been downright miserable.
Gao Shen had spoken to him before the match, and now, after City's 6-0 thrashing of Everton, Bale had finally broken free from his winless streak. This was the perfect opportunity for Gao Shen to have another conversation with him, to reinforce his confidence and help him develop faster.
Gao Shen also planned to explore the possibility of pushing Bale further up the pitch in a more advanced role, but that would require careful consideration.
Then there was Henderson, another issue that needed addressing.
Physically, he had the height and strength to play as a defensive midfielder. His ball control and passing were decent, but somehow, he just wasn't performing as expected.
Gao Shen had already spoken to Henderson multiple times. He genuinely liked the young English midfielder.
And it wasn't just about his passport, he truly appreciated him as a player.
How to put it?
Henderson and Rakitic were actually quite similar. Both were disciplined professionals who would execute the manager's instructions to the letter, without complaints or excuses. Even if they were assigned roles they weren't entirely comfortable with, they would still give their all and do everything in their power to fulfill their tasks.
What manager wouldn't love a player like that?
At their current age, their skills could still be improved through training, but mentality and work ethic were much harder to change.
That was why Gao Shen was keen on experimenting with Henderson, to see if he could adapt to the No. 4 role or develop his own unique playing style.
(To be continued.)
***
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