Pellegrini's secret weapon
Aguero or Kevin de Bruyne are the biggest hopes in Man City's efforts to find a goal at Bernabeu, but most likely, the goal will come to them from a name completely unfamiliar to Real Madrid.
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That is Kelechi Iheanacho, a 19-year-old Nigerian striker.
In fact, only Real Madrid fans feel unfamiliar with Iheanacho, because in the Premier League, this striker has made a strong impression, most recently with a double against Southampton in the Premier League. First was a very quick header and then a technical shot from the edge of the box in the style of Aguero.
In total, Iheanacho has scored 13 goals for Man City this season after 32 matches, equivalent to 1,034 minutes. In terms of scoring efficiency, Iheanacho is showing like a veteran striker when it only takes him 79 minutes for a goal. In addition, he has 5 assists for Man City in all competitions.
This is certainly a turning point season for Iheanacho, as he really steps into the limelight and becomes City’s first choice striker. If he can score against Real Madrid tonight to help City progress, the Nigerian striker will shorten that process.
In the first leg, Iheanacho only came on after David Silva picked up an injury, but Pellegrini knows what he can expect from a striker who has scored seven Premier League goals this season (Iheanacho has scored every 87 minutes, more than any other player to score two or more goals in the Premier League), despite only starting five times. Real Madrid's defenders may be used to Aguero, De Bruyne and Sterling, but Iheanacho is unpredictable and could surprise them.
Iheanacho is making a splash at City, but the 19-year-old striker has a great start. He shone at the 2013 U17 World Cup, helping Nigeria win the tournament and winning the Golden Ball himself with six goals and seven assists. It was his extraordinary performances in the UAE that earned him a move to City (he joined from Nigeria's Taye Academy in January 2014).
Manager Manuel Pellegrini revealed in January that the reason he let Stevan Jovetic and Edin Dzeko leave Man City last summer was to give Iheanacho a chance to develop his potential. And so far, he has been right.
Casemiro: “Man City is not just about Aguero” Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro has warned his teammates that Man City have more than just Sergio Aguero, with the English side also having other threats. Man City just lost 2-4 to Southampton in the Premier League in a match where Aguero sat on the bench to save his strength for the big match with Real Madrid. Clearly, Aguero is Man City's biggest hope at the Bernabeu tonight, not least because of the 28 goals he has scored for the English team this season. “Man City doesn’t just have Aguero. They have many other great players with very high quality. We have to keep an eye on all of them and concentrate on the game. Real Madrid have to play with strength and high alert,” Casemiro warned his teammates. Manager Manuel Pellegrini hopes that Aguero will make a difference at the Bernabeu, but it is clear that Man City cannot rely solely on the Argentine star. In the first leg at the Etihad, Aguero played very disappointingly and did not leave any mark. |
According to thethaovanhoa
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