Football: My AI System Provides Max-Level Predictions

So, from the very beginning, when Tang Long received a call from Ranocchia, he wasn't willing to go out.

But since Ranocchia kept insisting, Tang Long had no choice but to go out.

When he arrived at the designated café, it was already ten o'clock at night.

Tang Long pushed open the door to the private room, and to his surprise, besides Ranocchia, there was another Manchester City player, Kolarov!

"Hey, brother, you're here!" Kolarov stood up rubbing his hands, while Ranocchia leaned back in his chair, smiling at Tang Long.

"Uh, why are you here?" Tang Long was taken aback by Kolarov's presence.

Is this guy really familiar with me or Ranocchia?

Tang Long recalled what Ranocchia told him on the phone, saying he would bring someone along, and that this person was crucial for our journey in the new season, someone who could help us turn things around.

Could that person be Kolarov?

Tang Long looked at Kolarov, with his rugged Eastern European appearance, unkempt beard, and disheveled look, and couldn't make heads or tails of it.

Ranocchia was clearly the organizer of this meeting. He said, "Kolarov used to play in Serie A. Before coming to Manchester City, he was a well-known figure in Lazio. I specifically invited him out so the three of us could catch up."

Kolarov waved his hand and laughed, "Catching up is an overstatement. I'm quite old now, almost thirty in the blink of an eye. When I played in Serie A, neither of you were at Inter. I'm just meeting up as teammates to socialize during training breaks."

"By the way, Tang, you never told me how you pulled off that sensational volley!"

"You'd have to ask Ranocchia about that. He jokingly said, only clever people can understand it." Tang Long exchanged a smile with Ranocchia.

After a few pleasantries, the atmosphere opened up, and Ranocchia got straight to the point.

"Tang, have you noticed? There's a factional presence in Manchester City's locker room now. I realized it after playing my first Premier League match, but I can't quite figure out the specific groups. You joined a month later than me, so I believe you're even more in the dark. That's why I invited Kolarov to help explain it to us."

Tang Long nodded slightly, surprised, realizing that not only he but Ranocchia also noticed something was up!

He thought again and felt it wasn't strange at all that Ranocchia noticed it, and it was very reasonable.

"Ranocchia used to be Inter's captain and the leader of the Italian Local Gang. He has extensive experience managing the locker room. Compared to me, he's actually more sensitive to Manchester City's locker room dynamics. It makes perfect sense, and it's logical. If he didn't notice, that would be unusual."

Thinking further: "On the phone, he mentioned Kolarov being vital to our new season journey, likely meaning he made an in-depth study. He knows I don't like going out at night, yet insisted on having me come out. It seems this Serbian left-back does indeed have a thorough understanding of Manchester City's locker room dynamics. He joined Manchester City in 2010 along with Silva, Yaya Toure, Milner, and others, serving for five years, making him a seasoned veteran at Manchester City. Let's hear what he has to say."

As for why Ranocchia approached Kolarov, and why Kolarov agreed to meet the two of them, Tang Long doesn't know yet.

Seeing Ranocchia bring up the main topic, Kolarov didn't beat around the bush. He casually spoke while sipping his coffee.

"Manchester City, as a club, indeed has a strong factional presence within the locker room, definitely stronger than my previous club, Lazio. Maybe it's because Manchester City has a lot of foreigners, so it's not uncommon for people to group together."

According to Kolarov's description, there are four major factions in Manchester City.

Unlike Inter, the factions in Manchester City are not grouped by nationality but by language.

Kolarov then, based on his understanding, categorized Manchester City's factions for the current season.

Spanish Language Gang: Agüero, David Silva, Navas, Otamendi, Sabaleta, Caballero, Demichelis

French Language Gang: Yaya Toure, Nasri, Sagna, Mangala, Klichy, Bony

English Language Gang: Joe Hart, Milner, Sterling, Delph

Portuguese Language Gang: Fernandinho, Fernando

"The biggest faction in the team is the Spanish Language Gang, mainly composed of Spaniards and Argentinians. Agüero, Silva, Sabaleta, and others are key starters in their respective positions and are also legendary figures in the club. With Otamendi's arrival, Manchester City's central axis is controlled by the Spanish Language Gang."

"There are also quite a few French speakers. They once had glorious times, even overshadowing the Spanish Language Gang, but as of now, only Toure and Klichy hold high status in the French Language Gang."

"What about Nasri," Ranocchia interjected, "I remember he used to be quite famous, known as one of France's 'Four Little Swans'."

"This swan's feathers are almost all fallen," Kolarov laughed, "Last season, he gradually faded out of the starting lineup."

When talking about the English Language Gang, Kolarov particularly mentioned Joe Hart.

"Hart has been at Manchester City since 2007, making him the longest-serving player in the team. He holds a lofty place in the hearts of the club's fans. Back then, Manchester City was just an ordinary club, and he has witnessed Manchester City's rise from the depths to the pinnacle step by step."

Tang Long nodded, "Yes, my compatriot Sun Jihai spent a year as teammates with Hart, and he once told me stories about Hart."

"As for Milner, he's a main rotation player who plays very aggressively, while Sterling and Delph are both new recruits," Kolarov added.