*** Join my Patreon for Advance Chapters (currently 5-6 chapters ahead I think) , I'll only post less frequently in Webnovel from now. Link is Below. Remove space after https.
https:// www.patreon.com/c/Virtuosso777?redirect=true
Also, Join the Discord server for updates and discussions, as I won't be checking comments here often
https:// discord.gg/n5ADcKzX
Btw, Joker sama is posting this on scribble hub on my behalf. Might just stop here after 100, and let him take take over there posting the free chapters slowly.
Enjoy and have fun! ***
The 1-1 draw with Chelsea had been frustrating, but not disastrous. Manchester City were still unbeaten, still playing some of the best football in the league, and still stacked with talent. The two wins in a row after that boosted their confidence again.
Yet, something else had started to shift within the club—and not in a way anyone liked.
It began quietly after the Chelsea match. Alvaro Negredo, Jesús Navas, and Gaël Clichy had voiced "minor" complaints about training loads and playing time.
Then, a few players started missing sessions—Negredo with reported tightness in his leg muscles, Navas claiming he had a cold, and Clichy saying he was feeling "off." No medical diagnosis backed any of it. Just vague symptoms and bad timing.
At first, Pellegrini brushed it off. Veterans sometimes needed rest. But when murmurs about Adriano began to circulate—specifically, that he was "privatizing" the team, taking control of the locker room, and using his influence to push players out—Pellegrini's tone changed.
The whispers turned into something louder. Some of the older players, particularly those sidelined recently, hinted that Adriano had an unofficial say in tactical decisions. Others said the young star was "too close" to the manager.
Even though regular players like Hazard, Silva, Salah, Hart, and De Bruyne were unaffected—Adriano had built strong bonds with them—there was some unease among the longer-serving players like Fernandinho, Yaya Touré, Milner, and Boyata. They didn't act out, but their silence said enough.
Pellegrini had seen enough. Quiet meetings were held. Reports were written. And then came the decision—Negredo, Navas, Sinclair and Clichy were officially removed from the squad, and placed on the transfer list.
This move caused rumors to spiral and media as always, were waiting to write some juicy scoops. When they found Pellegrini for the press conference before Tottenham match, most of the questions were regarding these matters.
***
The morning before the highly anticipated Tottenham match, Manchester City's press room was at full capacity. Every national outlet had sent someone. Cameras flashed, microphones clicked on, and there was an undeniable tension in the air. It wasn't just about football anymore. The story had become bigger—about internal control, about influence, about the state of Manchester City's dressing room.
Manuel Pellegrini entered the room with his usual calm demeanor, but there was a visible edge to his movements. He adjusted his jacket, nodded once to the gathered media, and took his seat behind the table. The club's press officer gave the standard introduction, and before she could even finish, the questions started flying.
"Manuel," came the first one, sharp and fast from a reporter in the front row, "several veteran players are missing from your squad for tomorrow. Negredo, Navas, Clichy. Are they injured, or have they been dropped?"
Pellegrini answered without hesitation. "We've made decisions based on commitment and professionalism. Some players are no longer in our immediate plans. We're focused on the squad that wants to play and fight for this club. We move forward."
Another hand shot up, followed by a more pointed question. "Is this about what some are calling a 'player revolt'? There are rumors that those players refused to train and that it's related to Adriano's role in the locker room. Can you comment on that?"
Pellegrini didn't blink. "No player refused to train. But when players are more concerned with their role off the pitch than their performance on it, then we have a problem. Adriano is one of the hardest-working professionals I've coached. He has earned the respect of many in the dressing room. If anyone has an issue with that, the solution is to raise their level."
There was a murmur in the room. The next reporter leaned forward.
"Are you concerned about how this unrest might affect your team's performance? The timing—just before a big league match and with Champions League match with Bayern Munich coming up—it isn't ideal."
Pellegrini nodded slightly. "Internal situations are always a test. But we've trained well. The group is focused. Our job is not to manage headlines. Our job is to win matches."
Another reporter leaned in. "There are strong rumors that Adriano has too much control in the locker room. Are you concerned his influence is damaging team unity?"
Pellegrini didn't blink. "Adriano is a professional. He trains hard, plays hard, and respects his teammates. Any player who wants to compete at this level should do the same."
A younger journalist in the back asked the next question, reading from his notes. "There are claims from sources close to the veterans that Adriano has too much influence in tactical discussions and even player selection. Do you deny that he's controlling the locker room?"
Pellegrini's jaw set slightly. "I'm the manager. I select the team. Adriano doesn't pick players. He doesn't set tactics. What he does is lead by example—on the pitch, in training, in his preparation. If players feel threatened by that, again, they need to look at themselves."
The next question came fast. "But isn't the club becoming too dependent on him? He's played almost every minute, takes most set pieces, and now you're parting ways with players who were here long before he arrived. Is this Manchester City or Adriano FC?"
That one drew a few laughs and smirks from the room. Pellegrini didn't return it.
"This club is built around winning," he said calmly. "Not one player. Not one group of players. When someone like Adriano performs consistently, creates goals, scores them, and improves those around him, we don't punish that—we support it. He's earned his role. The same opportunity was available to every player here."
Another voice jumped in. "There are rumors about Adriano creating divisions. That players who don't agree with him are being pushed out of starting lineup."
Pellegrini raised an eyebrow. "That's nonsense. Adriano is a competitor. He's respected, especially by the newer arrivals. There's no favoritism in this squad. But there is a clear standard."
Then came the pointed question. "You've put multiple veterans up for transfer—just two months into the season. Isn't that destabilizing?"
Pellegrini didn't flinch. "We need players who are committed. It's simple. Commitment isn't negotiable."
The final question summed up the mood.
"Do you still have full control of this dressing room, Manuel?"
Pellegrini paused for the first time. He looked around the room, made direct eye contact with several reporters, then leaned into the microphone. "I never lost it."
The press officer ended the session quickly after that, thanking everyone for coming. But the headlines had already written themselves.
By midday, the web was flooded with clickbaits.
"Adriano Divide Growing Inside City"
"Pellegrini Sides with New Blood—Veterans Frozen Out"
"Too Much Power for One Player?"
"Man City: Star-Driven or Star-Dependent?"
The noise was loud. And as the team prepared for Tottenham that evening, everyone at City knew—this wasn't just about football anymore. This was a battle for control, trust, and the future direction of a club under the spotlight.
Following the press conference earlier that morning, the mood among the Manchester City fanbase was divided, with social media platforms alive with both support and criticism. The conversation shifted from football to internal politics, as the questions around Adriano's influence in the locker room became the central topic.
On Twitter, the hashtag #AdrianoFC was trending. Many fans, especially younger ones, had embraced the narrative that Adriano was now the future of Manchester City, and they voiced their support. "Adriano is the future of this team. He's a leader, and he should be the focal point," one tweet read, which garnered thousands of likes and retweets.
But not everyone shared that sentiment. A number of fans were frustrated by what they saw as the manager's prioritization of the new arrivals at the expense of the club's established veterans.
"I'm tired of hearing about Adriano. He's not bigger than the club," one fan tweeted, followed by a string of replies questioning Pellegrini's handling of the situation. "How can we let players like Clichy, Navas and Negredo go just like that? Not to mention Nasri, Fernando and the others were sold before."
In the more heated threads, discussions became less about football and more about the broader implications of team dynamics.
"This is City under Pellegrini," one user posted, "throwing out the old guard for the new blood. No heart left in this club."
The headlines coming out of the press conference only added fuel to the fire. "Pellegrini Culls Veterans as Adriano Takes Control" and "Man City's Shift Toward a New Era—But at What Cost?" were among the most shared articles, with several fans commenting, "This is a dangerous game."
However, some supporters rallied around the manager. "Pellegrini is doing what's best for the future. The veterans have had their time," one fan posted on a Manchester City forum, defending the decision to move on from players who had been with the club longer. "Adriano deserves his place, and the team needs fresh energy."
The fan reactions weren't just online. On the streets of Manchester, as fans wore their City scarves and jerseys in the hours leading up to the match, discussions about Pellegrini's decisions were everywhere.
Groups of fans gathered at pubs, their voices raising in lively debate about the internal unrest. One group argued, "We're in it for the win. If we win, who cares who plays?" while another pointed out the risk of unsettling the locker room further.
But despite the divided opinions, everyone agreed on one thing: the match against Tottenham would be the first true test of this new look City team, and the internal drama had only heightened the stakes.
***
The atmosphere at the Etihad was tense. The stadium was full, but the mood was far from comfortable. Over the past week, stories about dressing room issues and senior players being dropped had dominated the headlines. Supporters weren't just here to watch a football match—they were here to judge what the club was becoming.
As both teams walked out of the tunnel, the noise from the stands was mixed. There were loud cheers when Adriano's name was announced, especially from the South Stand where some fans held banners showing his name and number. But there were also boos from smaller groups scattered across the stadium, those still backing the sidelined veterans. The support was divided.
From the commentary box, Martin Tyler set the tone.
"There's a strange mood in the Etihad today, Alan. You can feel the tension in the air."
Alan Smith responded. "Yeah, the crowd's split. This is about more than just today's match. It's about direction, and which players represent it. Hope the players don't get affected by the drama out of pitch."
Manuel Pellegrini had picked a lineup that said a lot. It featured energy and pace, and leaned heavily on younger players. Pochettino was the opposite.
Team Lineups:
Manchester City (4-2-3-1):
Goalkeeper: Joe Hart
Defenders: Zabaleta (RB), Kompany (CB), Hummels (CB), Kolarov (LB)
Midfielders: De Bruyne (CM), Silva (CM)
Attacking Midfielders: Salah (RW), Adriano (CAM), Hazard (LW)
Forward: Aguero (ST)
Tottenham Hotspur (4-2-3-1):
Goalkeeper: Hugo Lloris
Defenders: Walker (RB), Dier (CB), Vertonghen (CB), Rose (LB)
Midfielders: Mason (CDM), Bentaleb (CDM)
Attacking Midfielders: Townsend (RW), Eriksen (CAM), Lamela (LW)
Forward: Soldado (ST)
From the start, Tottenham applied pressure high up the pitch. Their midfield closed down quickly, and Lamela and Eriksen were active in tracking City's deeper midfielders. The idea was clear: break up City's rhythm early and force mistakes.
The first ten minutes were cautious. City kept the ball but struggled to find any tempo. Tottenham were disciplined in their shape and aggressive in their pressing. In the 7th minute, Silva received a pass near the halfway line but hesitated, allowing Eriksen to nip in and win it cleanly. Eriksen immediately fed Lamela, who cut inside from the right and tried a left-footed shot from outside the box. Joe Hart read it early and went down quickly to collect.
"Early warning signs for City," said Martin Tyler. "Tottenham pressing intelligently."
City looked slow in their buildup. Salah made two runs behind Danny Rose on the right but wasn't picked out. Adriano dropped deeper to get involved, sometimes receiving the ball just ahead of the halfway line. Spurs responded by tightening their midfield even more, with Bentaleb stepping forward to close the space around him.
In the 12th minute, City created their first clear chance. Silva, under pressure, decided to switch play from left to right. His lofted diagonal pass caught Tottenham off guard. Salah took it down well, used a quick burst of pace to beat Rose down the line, and sent in a low cross to the near post. Adriano made a late run and slid in, but Lloris came out quickly and blocked with his right arm.
"Much better from City," Alan Smith commented. "Quick switch, direct running. That's how they can stretch Spurs."
That moment seemed to lift City's tempo. They moved the ball faster and tried to create passing triangles in midfield to beat Tottenham's press. Adriano and De Bruyne started drifting slightly wider, pulling the Spurs midfielders out of their compact shape.
By the 20th minute, City were on top. They began finding gaps between Tottenham's midfield and defence. Silva found more space between the lines, and De Bruyne started driving at Mason with the ball.
In one sequence, De Bruyne picked up the ball just past the centre circle. He shifted away from Mason, touched it past Bentaleb, and had a clear view of goal. From 25 yards, he drilled a low shot aimed for the far post. Lloris dove and pushed it wide.
"Lloris had to be sharp there," remarked Martin Tyler. "De Bruyne didn't need an invitation."
Kolarov went to take the resulting corner. Instead of swinging it in, he played it short to Silva. Silva took a touch, then lifted a floated cross to the far post. Kompany timed his jump well and met it cleanly, but the header went just over the bar.
"That's a real chance," Alan Smith remarked. "Kompany got free. He'll be disappointed not to hit the target."
The match continued at a high pace, with City having more of the ball but Tottenham staying organised. Spurs weren't creating chances but were doing enough to keep City from getting too comfortable.
At the end of the 25th minute, the Etihad was still waiting. Some fans were louder now, encouraged by the improved tempo. Others still sat quietly, arms folded, waiting for more. The tension hadn't disappeared. But the football had started to take over.
The game began to shift in momentum, and in the 34th minute, Manchester City made the breakthrough.
David Silva, having drifted slightly past midfield, received the ball with a quick glance around him. He saw Adriano making a precise run between Tottenham's center-backs, Jan Vertonghen and Eric Dier. The pass from Silva was perfectly timed—lightly weighted, sending the ball just ahead of Adriano.
Adriano, showing a quick burst of pace, took a touch to control and then used a swift stepover to leave Vertonghen behind.
He fired a low shot across goal, placing it perfectly into the bottom left corner. Hugo Lloris, diving to his right, could do nothing to prevent it.
"Goallllll! 1-0 for Manchester City!" Martin Tyler announced, his voice rising with the excitement of the moment. "Adriano finds the back of the net again! A brilliant run and an even better finish. The youngster has his moment despite all the rumors swirling around him."
The Etihad Stadium's response was mixed. Some sections erupted in cheers, their voices echoing around the stadium, while others—those who had perhaps hoped for a different outcome—remained seated, showing only muted applause. The tension that had built over the past week wasn't easily shaken off by a single goal.
Adriano, typically full of energy and emotion after scoring, took a different approach this time. He walked slowly back to the center circle, his face stoic, eyes forward. There were no celebrations, no fist pumps—just a quiet determination as he readied himself for the restart.
Silva, the man who had made the assist, jogged over to Adriano, offering a quick pat on the back. De Bruyne also approached, exchanging a few brief words with the young star, but Adriano's focus seemed unwavering, his body language making it clear that this goal was just another part of the business at hand.
Alan Smith, ever observant, was quick to pick up on the significance of the moment. "That wasn't a celebration, Martin. That was a message. Adriano's body language says it all—he's not here for the applause today. This was all business."
The goal clearly gave City a boost. Spurs, who had been well-organized and disciplined up to that point, began to show signs of cracking. Their midfield, which had been so compact and hard to break down, began to drop deeper in an attempt to regroup. This shift created more space for City's midfield duo, De Bruyne and Silva, to exploit.
City started to show more confidence in possession, and their passing became quicker, more fluid. De Bruyne's ability to glide past midfielders and pick out dangerous passes was coming to the forefront. Silva, too, looked more involved, now with more space to work his magic in the heart of the pitch.
In the 38th minute, De Bruyne tested Lloris again. Collecting the ball just outside the box, he sidestepped a challenge from Bentaleb before unleashing a low, powerful shot from 25 yards. Lloris reacted quickly, diving to his left to push the ball out for a corner.
"That's more like it from De Bruyne," Martin Tyler commented. "A powerful strike, but Lloris was equal to it."
From the resulting corner, Kolarov played it short to Silva, who, after taking a touch, floated the ball into the back post. Vincent Kompany, rising above everyone else, headed toward goal. However, the ball drifted narrowly over the crossbar, much to the frustration of the crowd.
"Just over the bar!" Alan Smith noted. "Kompany's header had Lloris worried for a moment, but it was always rising. A little more accuracy, and that could've been 2-0."
Tottenham, despite the mounting pressure, had not given up on their defensive structure. But the goal seemed to have shaken them. Their earlier high press had weakened, and they were struggling to regain control of the ball in the midfield.
Lamela, who had looked dangerous early on, had found it difficult to break free from City's defensive setup. Eriksen was also being tightly marked, and the gaps in Tottenham's attacking play were becoming more evident.
As the half neared its end, City's confidence continued to grow. Their passing was more purposeful, and the front three—Salah, Hazard, and Aguero—began to find more space in the final third. Hazard, who had been relatively quiet until this point, started to make runs at the Tottenham defense, forcing Rose to commit to tackles, which opened up space for his teammates.
The game's tempo had noticeably shifted after City's goal. Spurs, once compact and organized, were now looking a little disjointed. Their midfield was no longer as disciplined, and this allowed City to push forward with greater freedom.
In the 41st minute, Manchester City showed their ruthlessness once again, punishing Tottenham for a mistake in midfield.
Nabil Bentaleb, under pressure from Silva, tried to make a simple pass to his teammate, but it was intercepted cleanly by the Spanish midfielder. Without hesitation, Silva turned and launched a counter-attack.
He immediately spotted Adriano, who had spun off his marker in the center of the park. Adriano's movement had been subtle but intelligent, and now he sprinted into the space in front of him.
Silva's pass was perfect, threading through the Tottenham midfield and into the path of Adriano, who gathered the ball smoothly in his stride. As he charged forward, Adriano drew the attention of both Vertonghen and Dier, forcing them to retreat.
With a quick glance to his right, Adriano spotted Mohamed Salah surging down the wing. Without breaking his stride, he laid the ball off to Salah, who was charging toward the Tottenham box.
Salah controlled it with a single touch and, without hesitation, whipped in a low, hard cross into the six-yard box. The delivery was perfect—hard, fast, and right across the face of goal. Aguero, trailing the play, arrived at just the right time, timing his run perfectly. He had the simplest of tasks: slot the ball past Lloris into the empty net.
"Goaallllll! 2-0 for Manchester City!" Martin Tyler announced, his voice full of energy, capturing the momentum of the moment. "AND CITY DOUBLE THEIR LEAD! Aguero with the finish—Adriano and Salah with the buildup. Ruthless from Manchester City."
Yet, despite the quality of the goal, the celebration remained tepid. Aguero raised a hand to acknowledge the fans, a slight half-smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, but the emotion seemed forced.
He quickly turned to Salah, offering a brief embrace before the two broke apart. Adriano, for his part, had already turned and was jogging back to his position. There were no exuberant celebrations, no jumping or shouting. His face remained focused and impassive.
"The goals are coming, but the joy isn't," Alan Smith observed. "This is sharp, clinical football—but something's missing emotionally. It's like they're all holding something in."
The Etihad was louder after the goal, but the reaction still wasn't what you might expect for a team up 2-0. The energy was there, but it was mixed. Some fans cheered, some clapped in recognition, but there was no overwhelming eruption of joy. The tension that had been simmering all week still lingered in the stands. Some fans in the South Stand, likely supporting the sidelined veterans, began to voice their displeasure with calls of "Adriano" chants that tried to gain momentum. However, sections of the crowd quickly drowned them out, further illustrating the division among the fanbase. It was clear that the atmosphere was charged with uncertainty, not celebration.
Tottenham, despite the two-goal deficit, refused to fold. The visitors were not showing the signs of a team beaten, though they were clearly under pressure. Just before halftime, they nearly got themselves back in the game. Erik Lamela, after some solid work in the middle, managed to take on Aleksandar Kolarov. With a swift turn of pace, Lamela cut past the fullback and was fouled in the process, winning a corner kick.
Christian Eriksen, who had been relatively quiet up to that point, delivered a dangerous ball into the box. It was driven low and fast, landing perfectly for Roberto Soldado, who had made a clever run off Kompany's shoulder. Soldado leapt to meet the cross and connected with it cleanly, his header firm and precise. It looked destined for the top corner, but it was narrowly too high, flying just over Joe Hart's bar.
"That was a great chance," Alan Smith remarked. "Soldado did everything right, but just couldn't get enough direction on that header. Hart was beaten if it was on target, but it wasn't to be."
Tottenham kept pressing, refusing to let their heads drop. Just a minute later, they had another opportunity. Andros Townsend, on the left, received a pass from Bentaleb. He had a good deal of space as he charged toward the City penalty area. Townsend cut inside, aiming to release Eriksen in the center. Eriksen controlled the ball well and immediately tried to fire a shot from just outside the box. The strike was clean, but Hart, who had been alert all match, dived to his right to push the ball wide.
"A fine save from Hart," Martin Tyler said. "That could have been the lifeline Spurs needed, but Hart is quick to react and makes a smart save."
With Tottenham's threat momentarily quelled, City had one last chance before halftime to extend their lead further. Hazard, who had been quieter in the match but starting to show glimpses of his quality, picked up a loose ball on the left wing. He easily bypassed a sluggish challenge from Dier and, sensing an opportunity, skipped past another defender. Cutting inside onto his stronger right foot, he fired a low shot toward the far post.
However, Tottenham's defensive shape was beginning to tighten again, and Dier, recovering quickly, threw himself in the way of the shot. The block deflected the ball out for a corner. Silva took the resulting set-piece, curling the ball into the box, but Vertonghen was there to clear it with a header.
And with that, the referee blew his whistle for halftime. Manchester City went into the break with a comfortable 2-0 lead, but the mood in the stadium was far from jubilant.
"Manchester City go in at the break with a 2-0 lead," Martin Tyler announced. "Goals from Adriano and Aguero. But the real story today is the atmosphere—on and off the pitch."
Alan Smith added, "It's efficient. It's professional. But you can feel the weight of this week in how they're playing—and how they're reacting. This doesn't feel like a celebration."
As the players made their way off the pitch, the applause that followed was polite but restrained. Many fans stood, but some remained seated, arms folded across their chests.
It was as though everyone in the stadium, whether in support of the team or not, was waiting for something—waiting for confirmation that the performances on the pitch were more than just business as usual.
The scoreboard read 2-0, Manchester City were in control, but there was an undercurrent of tension that hadn't yet dissipated.
Back in the commentary booth, Tyler and Smith continued their discussion of the match, but their focus had shifted beyond the game itself.
"Pellegrini's decision to back his new players over the veterans—it's playing out in front of us," Tyler said, reflecting on the decisions made in recent weeks that had put the club in this position. "But what's the cost of unity? Can this team really come together with all the division off the pitch?"
Smith was succinct in his reply. "If this team keeps winning, it'll quiet the noise. But if they slip, this tension will explode. And the questions will grow louder."
With that, the players retreated to the changing rooms, and the second half loomed, yet the unanswered questions about the team's future remained. The mood was uneasy, and the tension was palpable.
The outcome of the match was still in the balance, but the real drama would unfold after the final whistle, when the bigger questions about the team's unity, and its future, would come to a head.
***
Even before a ball was kicked at the Etihad, City's fanbase had fractured into two noisy camps: those backing Pellegrini and his "new core," and those furious about the sidelining and selling off veterans like Navas, Clichy, and Negredo. The pre-match press conference had lit the match, and by kickoff, social media was a full-on bonfire.
By the time City went into halftime with a 2–0 lead, the comment sections, tweets, and forum threads were unrelenting—buzzing with praise, sarcasm, suspicion, and every flavor of reaction in between.
@CitehChronicles
"Well, Pellegrini said it's about commitment. Adriano just pressed like he wants to run for Prime Minister. Respect."
@BackInMyDay_MCFC
"Two-nil up and I'm still not convinced. Where's the soul? Where's the heart? Not celebrating goals is NOT a flex."
u/SkyBlueInsider (on Reddit)
"You can feel it, lads. This team's efficient, ruthless even. But the vibe is off. It's like watching a machine play football."
@BlueWallKev
"People were crying about Adriano 'having too much influence' — man's just assisted one and scored the other. Stay mad."
@NoelButCynical
"So Adriano is the problem... by carrying this team for 45 straight minutes? Make it make sense."
@LauraLovesCity
"Okay but Salah's cross for that second goal? GORGEOUS. Been underrated all season and finally showing what he can do when given space."
@DressingRoomLeaks (Parody Account)
"BREAKING: Aguero didn't smile after his goal because he's still looking for his best mate Navas in the dugout."
But it wasn't all praise. Some fans, especially those still bitter about the exiled veterans, refused to be swayed by a strong half.
@OldSchoolCitizen
"Let's not pretend a decent half erases the fact this club just tossed half the locker room aside. Enjoy it while it lasts."
@VintageKompany
"Adriano playing like a star, sure. But is anyone gonna talk about how Silva's looked off the pace? Doesn't look like himself today."
@RoseBloke93
"Can someone tell me why Kolarov's still on corners? Thought we were trying to improve this team."
Others were more focused on the atmosphere inside the stadium—and how even the fans seemed unsure of how to feel.
@EchoesOfMaineRoad
"Crowd sounds like it's arguing with itself. Every chant for Adriano gets drowned out by boos. This ain't normal."
@EtihadEndo
"Half the stadium's standing, half are sitting with their arms folded. It's like a weird family reunion with unresolved drama."
Meanwhile, neutrals and rival fans chimed in with their own takes, many amused by the drama unfolding behind City's professional performance.
@BantersaurusRex (Liverpool Fan)
"City fans beefing each other while being 2–0 up is the most on-brand thing this club's done in years."
@Pocheball
"Weird how City fans are sad about playing well. Spurs fans would sell their kidneys for a half like that."
Still, many supporters just wanted the noise to quiet down and focus on the football.
@TrueBlueTactico
"You can talk dressing room politics all you want, but tactically, that first half was class. De Bruyne + Silva controlling tempo, Adriano exploiting space, and Salah stretching the line. Clinical."
@KompanyEraMCFC
"Pellegrini made a decision. The first half says he was right. Time to back the XI that's on the pitch and stop crying about who's not."
As halftime rolled on and the pundits returned to the screens, the hashtags kept trending.
#AdrianoFC and #CityDivided went side by side.
#PellegriniBall crept up the charts, countered by #WhereIsTheUnity.
Everyone had an opinion. No one agreed.
But no one was looking away either.
And as the second half loomed, the feed refreshed—and the noise continued.
***