With the end of the holidays, the players are returning to Manchester City one after another.

And Pep Guardiola also began to arrange the team for training camps and warm-up matches according to his own preparation plan.

Just like last year, Manchester City are back in the International Champions Cup this summer.

As the tournament continues to be held, its popularity grows, and more and more teams participate in the event.

Compared to last year, the number of teams participating in this year's International Champions Cup has directly doubled to 16.

Among them, there are both top giants such as the Western Super League giants, as well as European upstarts like Manchester City.

In addition, Serie A teams such as Milan, Roma, and Fiorentina also continue to participate.

On the Premier League side, there are a lot more teams participating in this year's competition, such as Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and other giants have also participated in this competition.

And Grand Paris, which is committed to increasing its influence, also participated in the International Champions Cup for the first time as an invited team this year.

With so many top giants participating, the influence and excitement of this year's International Champions Cup have soared.

Many fans even jokingly refer to it as the Little Champions League, after all, many of these teams are regulars in the knockout rounds of the Champions League.

Even in the semi-finals of last year's Champions League, except for Bayern, the remaining three teams all came.

It's a good thing that the influence of the International Champions Cup has expanded.

This is because it attracts more fans and sponsors, and it can bring more revenue to the participating teams.

However, because there are so many teams participating, even if they are grouped like last year, the final schedule may be delayed for a long time.

If you finish the competition one by one, the schedule will drag on for half a month.

This will have a huge impact on the summer preparation of major teams, and with so many teams gathering in the United States, it will not be a good thing to promote the International Champions Cup.

With so much population in the United States, the football market is limited.

But if so many teams can be dispersed to different countries, not only can this problem be avoided, but also the influence and attractiveness of the international Champions Cup can be further broadened, and the cake can be made bigger so that everyone can share in the greater benefits.

As a result, after some discussion with the tournament committee, the participating clubs decided to add two major regions - China and Australia.

The reason for the addition of the China competition is simple: China is the world's most populous country and has a booming economy, and the potential of the football market is huge.

The major European giants attach great importance to the development of this market, and almost every summer, teams rush to the Far East to prepare and train.

In this case, it is better to change the strategy of fighting alone, and simply open a new area of the International Champions Cup in China, so that the major giants participating in the competition can directly fight here.

Compared with a single club coming to train, inviting local clubs to play friendly matches and warm-up matches, the collision between the top giants from Europe will undoubtedly attract Chinese audiences more.

After all, compared to European audiences, it is difficult for Chinese viewers to have the opportunity to go to Europe to watch high-quality Champions League matches live, especially the duel between such top giants, which is even more difficult to find.

Even local viewers in Europe may not be able to buy tickets, let alone fans from other countries.

Therefore, it is absolutely attractive to have the top European giants play in China and give Chinese fans a chance to watch the game at their doorstep.

After this news came out, it unexpectedly caused a huge sensation in China.

"Damn, it's really fake, are the European giants coming to play with us?"

"It's finally not the kind of game against the local team, I can't even wear it!"

"Who says it's not, the teams in our league are a bunch of stinky chess baskets, the level is rotten to death, competing with the top European giants, and before the other party can contribute, we will fall, such a one-sided game is not good at all!"

"That is, even if the opponent is a full substitute, plus the release of water, he can easily win several of us, such a game is not a game at all, it is like an exhibition game, there is no passion at all!"

Over the years, there have been many teams that have come to China to train, and domestic fans are also accustomed to the methods of these teams to make money.

They spent a lot of money to buy tickets and rushed to the stadium to watch the game, but what they saw was a game with little suspense and spectacle, and even because the strength of the players on both sides was too different, those giants would hide their main forces and not let those top stars appear.

This makes the fans who come for these stars feel that they have lost a lot of money, which is equivalent to watching a lonely look.

So, if there is such an event, they are not as interested as before.

After all, after a fool, there is always a lesson to be learned.

Of course, if it is a fierce matchup between the top European giants, especially the kind of competition that involves the ownership of the championship, then they will still be very supportive.

In previous years, the Italian Super Cup held at the Bird's Nest was a huge success.

The International Champions Cup is not as valuable as the Italian Super Cup, but the quality of the gold games is certainly much higher than that of the average team.

Therefore, if this event can be held in China, there is no need to worry about not being able to sell tickets.

……

Pep Guardiola had planned to continue to play in the United States, but there were too many teams in the United States, a full 10 teams.

This made him change his mind and set the training place in Asia.

So, after a month and a half, Lin Quan and Guardiola came to China again.

The difference is that last time Lin Quan came with the Spanish national team, this time he came with his teammates from the club.

After learning that Manchester City had chosen the China division, other teams in the competition also began to sign up.

Real Madrid and Barcelona have chosen the Chinese division together!

As a result, the three teams in China have been decided, namely: Manchester City, Real Madrid and Barcelona!

This lineup has made Chinese fans addicted, and this game lineup is tough enough!

These three teams are currently the best teams in European football, and they are the final contenders for last year's Champions League title.

And the game between them is still a grudge game, whether it is Manchester City vs. Real Madrid Barcelona, or the Spanish national derby between Barcelona and Real Madrid.

These three games, no matter which one, are absolutely exciting, absolutely good-looking.

Affected by this, before the game even started, the tickets for these three games had already been rushed.

On July 25, the first match in China was held at the Tianhe Stadium in Guangzhou.

The two sides are Barcelona and Real Madrid.

As soon as it came up, it was a major event like the Spanish national derby, and the tournament officials obviously knew how to attract the attention of fans.

The result naturally did not disappoint the fans, although in terms of the nature of the event, this is only a friendly match, but the competition between Barcelona and Real Madrid, there has never been any friendly match.

There has been a long-standing grudge between the two teams, and neither can afford to lose, and no one can lose.

Maybe at the beginning, they just arranged a semi-substitute and half-main lineup to exercise, but as they fought, the two teams played a real fire, and in the end, the main forces of the two sides who couldn't afford to lose did their best, and sent the strongest lineup to fight each other to the end.

Fans who came to watch the game were addicted, many of them had watched La Liga and the Champions League on TV, and Barcelona and Real Madrid had not watched the game once or twice.

But when you watch it on TV and on the pitch, the feeling is completely different.

Watching the game on the spot brings greater impact and deeper feeling.

For fans who can only watch the Chinese Super League live, this kind of game gives them a feeling of opening the door to a new world - it turns out that the game between the really strong teams is so exciting?

Feelings: I've watched the game for so many years in vain!

Just when the fans in Guangzhou were intoxicated by the aftertaste of the high-level game of the Spanish derby and couldn't extricate themselves, the fans in Beijing and the magic capital were eager to see through it, and tears of envy flowed from the corners of their mouths.

"I really want to see the Spanish derby!"

"It's a pity that Barcelona and Real Madrid don't come to us!"

"It's okay, it's our turn in the next game, and we can see Lin Huang play up close!"

Because Lin Quan is super popular in China, when arranging Manchester City's schedule, the organizers deliberately reserved the two largest stadiums for Manchester City.

July 28, Shanghai Stadium.

The 72,000-seat stadium was packed, and even the aisles were packed with fans.

Although according to the official statement, there are only 72,000 seats in the upper body, judging from the large number of seatless fans standing at the scene, the number of people entering the stadium today is definitely more than that.

The reason why this match attracted so many fans was that it was played against Manchester City and Barcelona, which was almost a replica of this year's Champions League final.

The organisers will indeed come to the scene, and Manchester City's popularity in China goes without saying.

And Barcelona, because of the Dream Three Dynasty and Messi, their number of fans in China is also very large.

Such a collision between two teams with both strength and popularity will naturally bring unparalleled attraction and make more fans pay for tickets.

Judging by the attendance at the scene, the results they were expecting were already there.

In this game, neither side arranged a semi-substitute and semi-main lineup to appear, and it was all the main force to play as soon as it came up.

It's not that they want to please the Chinese audience or anything, it's just that both teams have their own goals.

Pep Guardiola wanted to test the players' remaining form after a long holiday, and it happened that the opponent was not weak, so he took the opportunity to test it.

On the Barcelona side, they just beat Real Madrid 3:2 at Tianhe Stadium three days ago, and they are in high spirits at this time, and they want to take this opportunity to knock Manchester City down again.

At this time, Neymar was still in the team and had not left the team for the time being, but he knew that it had been a few days since he officially announced his departure.

So in the game, Neymar was completely like a desperate Saburo, showing his best state and attitude, and completely sparing no effort to attack and defend.

Under his leadership, the whole Barcelona team entered the state very quickly, and suppressed Manchester City at the beginning.

In the first half, Manchester City's performance was clearly inferior to Barcelona, and the players did not seem to be in the groove yet, and there were several mistakes in the cooperation between each other.

Not only that, but Manchester City's full-backs were also blown up by Neymar.

In the 32nd minute of the first half, Neymar broke through the wing and scored the first goal of the game.

The fans at the scene immediately burst into cheers, especially those Barcelona fans who wore the jerseys of the red and blue team to cheer on the scene, and they jumped and jumped with excitement.

Sure enough, my Barcelona has the MSN combination, who in the world can beat it?

It's as strong as Manchester City, don't you have to eat under my Barcelona?

Manchester City fans are a little worried, how can the team's current form feel so different from the Champions League final?

And what's going on with that Neymar on the other side?

Why did you suddenly become so brave?

It was already very difficult to deal with a Messi, and then a popular Neymar, who can withstand this?

When watching this game, many people felt that Barcelona was definitely going to rise in the new season, and they didn't expect Neymar to leave in a few days, so that Barcelona's dynasty that had not yet risen collapsed.

Pep Guardiola doesn't care much about the scoreline, but he is a little unhappy with the form of his players.

He was very decisive in replacing the players who were not doing well and replacing them with younger, more impactful players.

These young players may not be as capable as the main players, but their desire for competition and glory is far greater than that of these old players who have already won honors.

However, it is obviously impossible to rely on a group of young players to beat Barcelona, who are in full form.

Manchester City managed to pull a goal back in the second half, but Messi and Suarez scored two goals in succession.

At the end of the game, Lin Quan's volley rekindled the suspense of the game, and Barcelona's goal suddenly became noisy.

In stoppage time, in the face of Manchester City's crazy attack, Barcelona became very embarrassed for a while.

However, under their united defense, Barcelona finally kept the score of 3:2 to the point.

After the game, Lin Quan crossed his hands on his hips, glanced at his teammates, and shook his head helplessly.

He felt like he had lost something from his teammates.

But in Barcelona, he felt that strong desire.

"Lin, can I exchange jerseys with you?"

Just as Lin Quan was thinking, Messi walked to Lin Quan's side.

"Well, of course!"

Lin Quan quickly took off his jersey and completed the exchange with Messi.

"Why don't we take another picture later?"

Messi looked in a very good mood and offered to propose.

"What are you doing with a group photo?"

"Hehe, I just think such an opportunity is rare, so I want to leave a save!"

Messi said with a smile, of course he won't say it directly, this is the first time he has defeated Lin Quan on the field, of course, he should commemorate it.

"Okay, you wait for me, I'll borrow a camera!"

Lin Quan nodded, walked to the sidelines, and said to a reporter at the scene:

"This journalist friend, can you borrow your camera and use it?"

"Mine? When, of course you can! ”

The reporter didn't seem to expect Lin Quan to take the initiative to talk to him, and he seemed a little at a loss.

"Thank you very much!"

Lin Quan took the camera, ran back to the court, and casually pulled a teammate and asked him to help him take a photo with Messi.

Messi pays more attention to the image, and when taking pictures, he specially put on the exchanged jerseys, so as not to show the image of shirtless.

Because the weather is hot, he doesn't wear the sports tights he often wears.

Lin Quan, who was on the side, saw Messi's movements, and like the other party, he also put on the exchanged jersey.

As a result, the out-of-print photos of Messi wearing a Manchester City jersey and Lin Quan wearing a Barcelona jersey were born!

(End of chapter)