Chapter 270: Public opinion reversal! He became Manchester's King Arthur again!_2
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Manchester City has both joy and concerns!
A last-minute victory against Arsenal is indeed worth celebrating.
However, the brawl between the two teams at Emirates Stadium casts a shadow over Manchester City's reversal!
Don't be fooled by the commotion of over 20 people huddled together, fists and feet flying—it's hard to tell who hit whom.
But with hundreds of HD cameras recording the whole incident, those who fought, those who initiated attacks, none will escape accountability.
On Tuesday, the Premier League issued penalties.
On Manchester City's side, Joe Hart, Delph, and Agüero were given a three-match suspension, plus a fine of 20,000 British Pounds each, and they must complete 50 hours of community service.
Delph's suspension doesn't affect Manchester City much; in the position of defensive midfielder, he ranks fourth behind Yaya Toure, Fernando, and Fernandinho. The Man Club brought him in primarily for rotation.
But the suspensions for Joe Hart and Agüero are a significant blow!
One main goalkeeper and one star striker, forming Manchester City's strongest shield and sharpest spear.
Don't think Hart is merely the background for miracle goals; his goal-line skills are top-notch in the Premier League. Otherwise, he wouldn't have held Manchester City's main goalkeeper position firmly since 2007.
Agüero, naturally, needs no further explanation. Last season, he scored 26 goals and won the Premier League's Golden Boot. Critically, his substitutes Bony and Iheanacho have been quite mediocre this season. In their limited substitute appearances, they haven't delivered standout performances, and neither Pellegrini nor the fans seem to trust them.
But for those two, whether they can showcase themselves during Agüero's suspension concerns their future career at Manchester City.
Opportunities always favor those who are prepared!
Arsenal, on the other hand, is in even worse shape.
The same three players suspended, same three matches, but all are absolute starters.
Koscielny, Bellerin, Monreal—three main defenders out of action.
It's Wenger's turn to have a headache. In the next three rounds, how can the defense be managed? Hopefully, they won't be bombarded!
The suspension also adds a little twist to Manchester City's charity event.
Commercial Director Belada believes that although Arsenal initiated the conflict, being suspended for fighting surely tarnishes the club's reputation.
Originally selected to participate in the charity event, new recruit Delph is now considered unsuitable for such a public occasion to avoid media ridicule.
Therefore, Kolarov was chosen to replace Delph in the event.
The reason Kolarov was chosen over others is likely due to the incident where he rushed into the ring of Arsenal players surrounding Pellegrini, embracing the old coach and providing him great security.
This significantly boosted Kolarov's standing in Pellegrini's eyes, who recommended him to Belada as a token of gratitude.
Thus, Tang Long, Ranocchia, and Kolarov represented Manchester City at the charity event held in Manchester City Council on Wednesday.
Due to a last-minute change in the event arrangements, the dinner became a luncheon. The three players, after finishing training at half-past ten, quickly changed into suits and boarded the club's special car to the banquet hall.
The theme of this charity event was to raise funds for retired players who, for various unfortunate reasons, have fallen into poverty.
Football holds very important status in the United Kingdom, forming an integral part of England's culture, with the Premier League being a vital component of Britain's cultural export. It drives a lot of employment both upstream and downstream, with significant influence. Moreover, the issue of bankrupt retired players has been increasingly serious in recent years, becoming a social concern.
Therefore, this charity event gathered many celebrities and was of high caliber.
The event had not formally started yet, but the attendees trickled in, some in pairs, some in groups.
Men looking debonair, women radiant and elegant, the hall brimmed with eye-catching handsome men and beautiful women.
Despite this, the arrival of the three Manchester City Club players still drew everyone's attention.
Ranocchia's lanky build conspicuously towered over everyone else, with long hair tied with a band showcasing the unique charm of Apennine men.
Kolarov was sturdy and imposing, with silvery temples that added to his mature appeal.
Although Tang Long was the youngest, this wasn't his first time attending such an event. In his time at Inter, he often represented the club at various functions, thus in his dark blue suit, his manner was dignified and his fluent English surprised others.
Many attendees were attracted to Tang Long's handsome Asian features, and several women in their thirties gathered around, engaging him in conversation.
"Tang, which city in China are you from?"
"I've heard that compared to football, people in your country prefer basketball, right?"
"What? You're not even 19? Wow, it's amazing that you can already play for Manchester City at such a young age."
"When you played for Inter, Milan was a great place that I really liked; I often go shopping there."
"Do you have a girlfriend? My elder sister's daughter doesn't have a boyfriend either; shall I introduce her to you?"
There's still some time before the banquet begins.
After handling these British women, Tang Long began to wander around.
After a while, he noticed Dilata elegantly walking in from the entrance of the hall.
Dilata, the leading lady of Sky Sports, drew everyone's attention the moment she arrived at the banquet scene, with many men fixating their eyes on her.
She wore a tightly-fitting, sexy black dress that seemed tailor-made for her, perfectly hugging her 172 cm tall, well-proportioned figure.
The upper part of the dress had a deep V design, elegantly revealing her charming collarbone and ample cleavage, yet maintaining classiness.
The waist was cleverly cinched, outlining her slim waist and creating a smooth silhouette.
The length of the skirt was just right, accentuating her rounded hips and revealing her long, slender legs, complemented by a pair of red high heels that matched her mature and graceful aura.
"Hey there, star player. Long time no see." Dilata walked straight up to Tang Long.
She was already tall, and with seven or eight centimeters of heels, she was almost at Tang Long's forehead level.
Tang Long glanced at her deep V neckline.
Dilata said, "Looking for something, a necklace perhaps? Didn't I already give it to you?"
Tang Long said, "You don't really look like a reporter in that outfit, are you here for reporting?"
Dilata nodded, showing her electronic invitation on her phone, "I represent Sky Sports, invited to attend. Interviews can be conducted simultaneously without any disruption."
They chatted briefly, and Dilata whispered something in Tang Long's ear before leaving, winking at him twice with force as she walked away.
Tang Long turned around and saw Kolarov and Ranocchia standing not far behind him, watching.
"Well done, Tang, are you close with Dilata? You two seemed quite familiar," Kolarov said, looking at Dilata's retreating figure, his gaze lingering.
"Do you know her?" Tang Long asked back.
"The number one lady of Sky Sports Italy, nicknamed the Light of Italy—of course I know her. Five years ago, when I played at Lazio, she interviewed me after a match," Kolarov said.
"Back then, Inter's sports director Ossilio wouldn't let Manchester City and Chelsea mutually raise the price," Ranocchia said. "He delayed Tang's departure, and later Dilata released an exclusive interview with Tang, putting pressure on both sides. I recall that happening, right?"
The banquet was about to begin, and they took their seats.
As soon as Tang Long sat down, someone tapped him on the shoulder.
Turning around, he saw Gracie sitting beside him, smiling up at him.
"Hmm? Gracie, why are you here?" Tang Long asked in astonishment.