Master Tutoring Class

Chapter 221 Accelerating His Growth

Amsterdam Sports Daily:
Juan Felix scores twice; is his form back?

Daily Football:
[Audience Sporting 2-0 Warriors Rotterdam, Felix shines throughout!]

The Liverpool Evening News (UK):
[Felix's Chinese Angel? The Super Shooter is Back in Form!]

Dutch Football News:
Will 31-year-old Felix experience a second breakout season?

After the match, Felix became the focus of the media.

The main reason is that he was so famous before, and even though his performance has declined a lot, he still has a lot of followers.

Therefore, when Felix scored two goals in a single match, this potential fame immediately helped him reappear in the mainstream media spotlight.

To put it bluntly, he wasn't a challenger going up the mountain.

He once stood at the pinnacle!

Felix got up early in the morning.

He tiptoed out of the bedroom and took out his equipment from the walk-in closet.

Click!

The door opened.

Felix turned his head and saw his wife standing in the doorway.

"Sorry! I didn't mean to disturb you!"

Nina smiled at Felix, yawned, and said, "It's alright, would you like breakfast?"

Felix looked at his wife with some surprise, then waved his hand: "No, no, no! Let me eat when I get back?"

Nina nodded: "Let's invite your little angel too!"

"Huh?" Felix was taken aback.

Nina shrugged and said, "He helped you a lot. He had two assists for your two goals, didn't he?"

"Of course!"

Felix beamed, hugged his wife, kissed her, and then excitedly ran outside.

Felix has been feeling great lately.

It wasn't just because of his form; he also played very comfortably during the match, and the chaotic thoughts he used to have gradually diminished.

He knew that Wei Lai provided him with more than just passes and assists; often, Wei Lai also helped him create the situations he wanted.

And all of this is gradually helping my condition to improve.

He believes that if he continues to play a few more games like this, his form will definitely recover significantly.

I wouldn't dare say I'll return to my peak, but I'll definitely be much stronger than I am now.

Felix arrived at the training base in high spirits.

"Good morning?"

Felix raised an eyebrow. In the past, at this time of day, this stadium would only be occupied by him and Wei Lai.

And now.
Felix pointed at Conrad Lehmann.

Why is he here?

Wei Lai scratched his head; he didn't know either.

Konrad Lehmann: "I think I need to learn some things. Wouldn't it be better to train with three people?"

Felix looked at Wei Lai, who shrugged to indicate that there was no problem.

"OK then!"

And just like that, the morning exercise team gained one more person.

"Don't try to cooperate with me. Just run forward, and I'll cooperate with you!"

After passing the ball, Wei Lai immediately shouted something to Konrad Lechmann.

This guy always slows down suddenly in inexplicable places, making it difficult to control the timing of the fall.

The next time he made the pass, Konrad Lechmann suddenly sprinted forward at full speed, and the ball was right in front of him at the moment he looked up.

As he lifted his left foot, the ball suddenly dropped.

"."

Konrad Lechmann stared at the ball at his feet. He had only lifted his foot slightly, making only minor adjustments, but Wei Lai had been making the overall adjustments to the area and position.

That kind of pass can truly be called a masterpiece.

It has an arc, speed, and drop, and the landing point is so precise.

Conrad Lehmann understood that once he developed sufficient chemistry with Wei Lai, his breakthrough statistics would double.

Imagine this: when the ball is passed on the strong side, Wei Lai suddenly makes a long, curved pass to him, creating a one-on-one situation on the weak side. Konrad Lehmann has no idea how the opponent is going to defend him.

Such large-scale relocation and mobilization is difficult to defend against, even if one is aware of this tactic.

If the opposing team does this intentionally, they can easily penetrate the mid lane.

"I complained to you about the last game, and I apologize for that!"

Conrad Lehmann suddenly apologized to Wei Lai.

Wei Lai was somewhat surprised.

Given the former's status, he doesn't need to apologize even if the former insults him for no reason.

“I went back and watched the game video. Your decision was correct. If you had passed it to me then, I would have been surrounded by them.”

Wei Lai didn't say anything, but Felix spoke up from the side:
"This is the treatment of a core player! On the offensive end, the opponent will pay more attention to you. As a core player, you enjoy rights, but at the same time, you also have a heavy responsibility!"

Konrad Lechmann nodded: "This season, I've obviously had a much harder time playing, and they're paying more attention to me."

Having said that, he pointed at Wei Lai, then at Felix; "And he used that to free you!"

Wei Lai and Felix exchanged a glance.

Conrad Lehmann continued, "But that's not a bad thing. At least our team has ways to break through at other points."

He sighed, supporting himself with his hands. "Actually, this season has been very tiring, much more tiring than before. I always felt that if I didn't perform well, we would lose the game, so I would get anxious as the game progressed. But now I don't have to worry about that anymore. I can patiently wait for my chance. I can draw the firepower here, and you can also open up the situation in other positions and score goals."

Wei Lai blinked: "Shouldn't it be that your rights have been violated, and then you get furious with me?"

“Hey! This is just the Eredivisie!” Konrad Lechmann waved his hand and said, “I’m not that stupid. Improving the team is important because we have bigger goals, don’t we?”

Felix laughed and said, "The Champions League!"

Konrad Lehmann nodded seriously and said, "That's right!"

Wei Lai pursed his lips: "Is the Champions League really that hard to play?"

Felix: "It can't be described as difficult. Every game requires our full effort and we have to fight hard to win. The teams that can enter the Champions League are almost all the best in the major leagues. There are no rookies there, just relative differences in strength. And it's not just that. On the day of the game, the players' condition, tactical arrangements, and so on are also very important."

"Winning the Champions League title almost exhausted us. This was after giving up the league, cup competitions, and other competitions. If you want to compete in both the league and cup, you need at least two strong squads. Otherwise, you simply cannot support multiple competitions."

Konrad Lechmann: "If we hadn't been eliminated from the Europa League, you could have tried it. Those teams that were eliminated in the Champions League group stage, they all entered the Europa League and they were all incredibly strong, not to mention the teams that advanced."

Felix shook his head: "Even if he hadn't been eliminated, he wouldn't have been able to play. He was registered during the winter transfer window and didn't have a spot in the squad!"

Konrad Lechmann propped himself up on his knees: "Take it slow, but don't go too slow. I have a feeling that we'll be completely transformed next season."

The coaching staff is already restructuring the tactical system, and the performance this season has been passable.

But they will be under pressure to achieve results when the next season begins.

Whether Wei Lai will have more opportunities or gain full recognition next season depends on his performance.

2026/2027 Eredivisie Round 27, Zwolle vs. Atlético Amsterdam.

Zwolle is the capital of the province of IJssel in the eastern Netherlands.

Although it is called the capital, it is only a city with a population of about 120,000, which is barely the size of a small town.

Zwolle is currently in the lower half of the league standings. Although they are not in the relegation zone, they are under some pressure to avoid relegation.

Therefore, they played very hard at home.

But the harder you play, the more likely problems are to arise.

For example, in the 34th minute, Atletico Amsterdam seized an opportunity when Reyessa intercepted the ball in midfield and Hendrick passed it to Konrad Lehmann.

The latter dribbled forward, suddenly cut inside and dribbled laterally, and finally curled a right-footed shot into the net.

Just three minutes later, at a corner kick opportunity, Atlético Amsterdam had another chance.

Hendrick took the penalty, Felix headed the ball across, and Reyes scored a goal.

Reyesa was exceptionally excited after scoring the goal.

This goal could secure his starting position.

In the second half, at the 65th minute, the whistle blew for a substitution.

Reyesa was substituted off, and Wei Lai came on.

"Go up there and kick for a while!"

Mr. Morton patted Wei Lai on the shoulder, but didn't give him any special instructions.

With a two-goal lead, they have gained the upper hand and are in control of the game.

This is a perfect opportunity to train troops.

"Wei Lai got another chance to play in the 65th minute. This was his first appearance in the first game and he was recognized by the coaching staff."

Zhan Jing shouted excitedly.

One debut isn't enough to prove anything, but immediately returning to the court after that is a clear signal from the coaching staff. Wei Lai has entered the coaching staff's training program.

After Wei Lai entered the field, he still moved to the right defensive midfield position.

His task is simple: long passes or switching play on the offensive end.

Mr. Morton's instruction to him was to avoid playing in a narrow space during the game and to make full use of Wei Lai's game reading to allow the team to utilize the space effectively.

At this moment, Wei Lai's precise long pass and playmaking came into play.

boom!
Wei Lai met the ball and launched a long kick, turning towards the weak side.

"After Wei Lai came on, he immediately made wide passes. Atletico Amsterdam is a team that likes to play on the ground, and Wei Lai's passing style can not only play a role in orchestrating the offense, but also allow his teammates to take a breather in the fast pace and relax their tense nerves. It can also be considered a way to slow down the pace."

"The most important thing is accurate passing! Not the kind of blindly showing off your footwork, but a crucial pass that directly opens up the width of the field!"

Mr. Morton nodded from the sidelines.

He liked Wei Lai's obedient personality; he wouldn't be reckless and would fully implement the coaching staff's tactical intentions.

The most important thing is to stay stable!

There were no mistakes, and possession of the ball was not lost.

So far, in the two matches, Wei Lai has not conceded a single goal.

"Damn rabbit!"

The Zwolle players' eyes were red as they looked at Wei Lai.

They can't catch them!
Every time he gets close to Wei Lai, this guy either passes the ball out with a single pass or makes a long pass.

This guy doesn't hold onto the ball at all, and he doesn't linger in possession of it.

This meant that every time they tried to surround them, they were almost always empty-handed.

"His pass was so perfectly timed!"

Watching Wei Lai pass the ball again and again, assistant coach Peshang couldn't help but admire him.

It's hard to imagine that a 17-year-old kid could play so rationally and so steadily.

“Yes! The play was too logical.” Old Master Morton narrowed his eyes slightly. “But I would have preferred him to play more illogically.”

"Huh?" Pessan turned his head in surprise.

What do you mean by "the kicks were a bit unreasonable"?

Mr. Morton did not offer an explanation.

That makes sense; that's a workhorse midfielder, and the Eredivisie has no shortage of workhorse midfielders!
But what is unreasonable is the creative midfield, which is also a factor that Atlético Amsterdam lacks.

Was Wei Lai's play unreasonable?
can!
He can do this just by the arc of his two feet.

But Wei Lai doesn't play like that.

"Looks like we need to put some pressure on him." Old Master Morton couldn't help but laugh out loud: "The little guy is too eager to protect his stats."

He understood Wei Lai's state of mind at that moment.

Avoid mistakes, maintain consistency, and consistently get playing time.

Therefore, he will not take the initiative to try things, because there is a probability of making mistakes.

Wei Lai's performance was also passable, and even exceeded the passing grade in some cases.

Any other coach would be satisfied with this.

But Morton was different; his expectations for Wei Lai went far beyond that.

boom! boom! boom!
On the training ground's pitch, Atlético Amsterdam's players were continuously passing the ball one-touch along predetermined routes.

Meanwhile, on the sidelines, Peschan was clapping and shouting non-stop.

"Speed ​​up! Speed ​​up! Faster! Faster!"

Kenny Taylor passed back to Wei Lai, who immediately followed up with a long pass to the weak side.

"very good!"

Pechamp shouted, and continued in a loud voice:
"Remember! Passing must be fast, and decisions must be swift. The moment an opportunity arises, launch a counter-attack using this pattern. Those guys at Eindhoven won't give you time to observe; all they're thinking about is how to steal the ball from us and humiliate us!"

"Don't forget the home defeat in the first half of the season! The shame they brought us can only be washed away by ourselves!"

Peschan roared, "Again!"

The players immediately returned to their positions and resumed running and passing along the tactical route.

In their next match, the 28th round of the Eredivisie, they will face a tough battle.

They will face PSV Eindhoven, who are currently leading the Eredivisie standings, away from home.

In the first half of the season, these guys humiliated them 0-3 at the Amstel River Stadium, and this time they need to get their revenge.

Although the gap in the standings has widened, it may be impossible to catch up.

But they were also happy to have pulled PSV Eindhoven off the top of the table.

"Wei! Open your eyes to the distance, don't just focus on what's in front of you, and to your left and right. Felix and Robinson are there to provide support. Find space, and use your best methods to control and guide them."

Pechamp was still shouting.

But Wei Lai, who was on the field, already felt like he was about to be completely exhausted.

Do you really think it's that easy?
Moreover, the pace is so fast that sometimes even he can't keep up, so how can you guide him?
boom!
The ball was intercepted.

"Oh shit!"

Wei Lai cursed under his breath, turned around and immediately gave chase, but the opponent had already forced his way to the small goal and scored with a push shot.

Seeing Wei Lai supporting himself on his knees, panting heavily, assistant coach Pei Shang couldn't help but frown.

He slowly walked to Mr. Morton's side and whispered, "Aren't we putting too much pressure on him? He's only 17!"

Mr. Morton shook his head: "Not much. Let him continue playing like this. This kind of thing can only be improved through training and simulated matches. I didn't expect him to develop immediately, but at the very least, he needs to be willing to take offensive risks and create opportunities on his own."

Peschan pursed his lips: "Are you really planning to let him play in the next match?"

Mr. Morton nodded; "Starting lineup!"

Peschan grinned. Sometimes he felt like the old man was the one in front of him, because this person was far ahead of his time.

Two games, and that's it for the starting lineup.

And this was against PSV Eindhoven, so wouldn't you say it was like forcing growth?
Mr. Morton looked at Wei Lai running actively and nodded slowly.

He also carefully studied Wei Lai's information and his upbringing.

Whether in youth training or after entering the professional stage, he has always shown that kind of evolutionary growth whenever a huge challenge comes.

It's not that Wei Lai doesn't train hard, but rather that his personality dictates that he prefers a gradual, step-by-step approach, building a solid foundation little by little before moving on to the next item.

This aligns with his playing style, which is the type to find opportunities while maintaining stability.

Wei Lai will also grow during this process, but not so quickly.

Therefore, Morton decided to put some pressure on him, just in case he evolved.

He did say he would give Wei Lai a season and a half to grow and improve.

But he didn't say he wouldn't speed up the process.

At the very least, Wei Lai must have the ability to become an absolute starter in the second half of next season.

Only in this way can they complete the last piece of the puzzle.

thump!
Wei Lai plopped down on the ground, supporting himself with his hands, panting heavily.

Physical fatigue is secondary.

My head is about to explode!

"Want some water?"

Felix handed him a bottle of water.

Wei Lai, mouth agape and in a daze, said, "Don't make me think anymore, my head is going to explode."

Felix grinned, unscrewed the bottle cap, and poured it over Wei Lai's head.

The cool touch gives a cooling sensation.

"Thank you!"

Wei Lai thanked him and continued to pant.

The training intensity was inexplicably increased, and it was a geometric increase specifically targeting oneself.

He didn't know what the coaching staff wasn't satisfied with, that led them to train him so intensely.

Two hours of high-intensity training.

Wei Lai's nerves were on edge for two hours, and his mind was racing for two hours straight.

Observe, make decisions, guide the ball out, and continuously cycle through this pattern.

If you make a mistake, then you need to trace it back yourself.

Then continue repeating this process.

The entire process was under pressure, with the assistant coach constantly yelling, "Speed ​​up! Speed ​​up!"

Add your mother!

My head is about to explode!

(End of this chapter)