Mourinho's Miscalculation

For Chelsea, Schürrle's goal was very timely! After attacking fiercely for over 30 minutes, Chelsea players were starting to tire, both in terms of physical stamina and their initial high spirits. Meanwhile, Manchester City's mixed lineup of starters and substitutes, having withstood Chelsea's initial onslaught, was beginning to adapt to their attacking rhythm.

If Chelsea couldn't score soon, the longer the game dragged on, the worse it would be for them. Manchester City, although eager to win, could accept a draw given their incomplete lineup.

However, Schürrle's goal changed everything.

"Beautiful!" In the box, Abramovich jumped up, pumping his fist and applauding the Chelsea players. Chelsea's biggest issue was their weak attack, but once they took the lead, their defense made holding the score relatively easy. Moreover, with Manchester City's depleted lineup, how could they break through Chelsea's defense?

On the sidelines, Chelsea's bench, Mourinho thought the same. When the goal was scored, he wanted to celebrate wildly but restrained himself to maintain the composed demeanor expected from a top manager in front of the media and fans. He calmly took a sip of water, sitting steadily, seemingly indifferent to the celebrations around him, exuding an aura of control.

Cameras and journalists often focused on the reactions of both teams' coaches. Seeing Mourinho's calm demeanor, they couldn't help but admire his poise. Even Abramovich felt reassured seeing Mourinho's calm face. Though Mourinho had a difficult personality, his capabilities were undeniable. With him in charge, Chelsea fans felt more secure. If the team's attacking issues were resolved, Chelsea's prospects in the league and Champions League looked promising.

In another part of the box, Emma Watson was as excited as the fans in the stands when Chelsea scored. She clapped enthusiastically and cheered loudly, not caring if her hands turned red. Lily Collins, seeing her friend so animated for the first time, was stunned. Was this the same refined lady she knew?

"When watching football, don't worry about anything else. Wearing a mask all the time is tiring. This is the time to relax completely. Want to try?" Emma encouraged Lily, seeing her surprised expression.

"Hmm, you're right!" Lily Collins rolled up her sleeves and moved closer to Emma.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Emma asked, backing away in alarm.

"Nothing much, you just look like you need a beating!" Lily joked, continuing to move closer.

"Oh, I get it! You're upset because Chelsea is leading your boyfriend's team... Haha, stop it, I was wrong... Haha..." Emma laughed, trying to dodge Lily's playful attack.

"You know too much, brace yourself, Hermione!"

...

Chelsea, invigorated by their goal, launched even more ferocious attacks on Manchester City's goal. Torres, who scored twice in the last match, was particularly aggressive, with several close attempts that gave Manchester City fans a scare.

Seeing Chelsea's unstoppable momentum, Manchester City players resorted to more fouls, using two yellow cards to get through the tough period. At halftime, Manchester City trailed 0-1 as they headed back to the locker room.

As the two teams left the field, Lin and Hazard, the focal points of their teams' attacks, were covered in mud. Both had been targeted heavily by the opposing defense. Despite looking disheveled, Lin's performance was unaffected. In contrast, Hazard, hurt by Nastasić's tackle in the 42nd minute, was limping on his way to the locker room.

In Manchester City's locker room, the atmosphere was somber. They had been dominated throughout the first half, which had severely dented their confidence.

"You did well in the first half. Being down in the score isn't your fault!" Pellegrini encouraged his players, noticing their low spirits.

"Stamford Bridge has never been easy to conquer. Even with a full lineup, our chances of winning here wouldn't be more than 50%."

This wasn't an attempt to demoralize his team but a fact. Since Mourinho's first tenure, Chelsea's home ground had been the hardest to beat in the Premier League. They once had an 86-match unbeaten streak at Stamford Bridge. Even after Mourinho left and the streak ended, Chelsea's defensive prowess remained, and with Mourinho back, Stamford Bridge would once again become a fortress.

Pellegrini's words had some effect, gradually restoring the players' confidence. They looked up at their coach, eager to hear his plan for the second half.

"We're behind and need to find a way to equalize. Mourinho is known for his pragmatic football, so Chelsea will likely play defensively in the second half. The longer the game goes on, the less chance we'll have to score, and we might get caught on the counter. So, we need to strike before their defense is set."

Pellegrini then outlined his strategy on the board. "Negredo, don't worry about what's happening behind you. Focus on disrupting Chelsea's defense and drawing their attention. Jovetić, I need you to play as a shadow striker. Pass the ball and then push forward quickly. If you get a chance to shoot, don't hesitate. Got it?"

Both players nodded emphatically. As substitutes, they were eager to impress the coach.

Pellegrini then gave instructions to the fullbacks, emphasizing their roles in supporting the attack and ensuring they quickly retreated to maintain defensive integrity.

After detailing the tactics, Pellegrini highlighted several key moments. "In these moments, we transition from defense to offense quickly, catching them off guard."

Finally, Pellegrini spoke directly to Lin. "Chelsea's defense is tight on you, so we'll use that to our advantage."

Lin nodded, "Tell me what you need, coach. I'll execute the plan."

"Good. I want you on the right wing. We'll focus our attack there, draw their defense, and then switch play for a decisive strike."

A feint tactic? Lin understood Pellegrini's plan. With Navas out sick, Nasri on the left could deliver the final blow if given the chance. But first, Lin needed to draw Chelsea's attention to the right.

The second half began with Manchester City launching an aggressive attack. Negredo, after the kickoff, charged towards Chelsea's half, and Jovetić passed the ball to Lin on the wing before pushing forward himself.

Manchester City's midfield and defenders also pressed up, resulting in seven or eight players joining the attack. 

Mourinho, observing this, remained calm. An early attack from City was expected and prepared for. He glanced at Pellegrini on the opposing bench, confident in his strategy. This game was in the bag.

Chelsea's players quickly retreated, forming solid defensive lines. Manchester City's attack was stymied outside the 30-meter area.

"Is that all?" Mourinho smirked, seeing the attack falter. He signaled his team to counter-attack. Pellegrini might expect a defensive stance, but Mourinho planned to keep pressing.

"Wait, Chelsea is... They're not counter-attacking?" Manchester City's assistants were puzzled. Chelsea's strength lay in their defense, not their attack. Why abandon their strength?

In the stands and boxes, Chelsea fans and Abramovich were equally surprised. 

"Mourinho isn't defending with a lead; he's pushing for more goals. Truly the 'Special One'!" Commentators were taken aback but noted it fit Mourinho's audacious style.

On the field, Oscar, Schürrle, Torres, and Hazard pressed hard, determined to shake off their reputation for weak attacks. They aimed to showcase their offensive prowess, especially against Manchester City.

From the 47th minute to the 65th, Chelsea relentlessly attacked Manchester City's goal, boosting their fans' spirits. 

In the box, Abramovich clapped for Mourinho, pleased with the offensive display. His dream was to see Chelsea dominate with attractive football. Mourinho's defensive tactics had always been at odds with this vision, but today's match showed a promising shift.

"Keep it up, Mourinho. Start by beating Manchester City and let Chelsea's attacking football shine in Europe," Abramovich thought.

But in the 65th minute, the game took a sudden turn. After being pressured for 20 minutes, Manchester City launched a counter-attack. Chelsea, caught off guard, couldn't retreat quickly enough.

Lin, leading the charge, reached Chelsea's penalty area. Negredo had already entered the box, and Jovetić was pushing forward. However, Jovetić was marked by Lampard, leaving Lin with limited options.

Just as it seemed City's attack would fizzle out, Lin made a long pass to the left. With Chelsea's right side exposed, Nasri appeared like a ghost and, unmarked, blasted the ball into the net.

The score was now 1-1. Manchester City had equalized!