Master Tutoring Class

Chapter 236 Why do you think it's an experiment?
Turin, located in the upper Po Valley in northwestern Italy, in the southeastern Alps, is the capital of the Piedmont region and the province of Turin, and is the third largest city in Italy.

This city, with a population of less than one million, naturally cannot be compared to a metropolis like Milan next door.

But compared to the hustle and bustle of big cities, this place has a unique sense of tranquility.

Especially when standing at the hotel window, gazing at the majestic, undulating Alps in the distance.

The city is ablaze with neon lights, and the distant mountains lie like reclining giants, creating a visually striking scene.

“I didn’t grow up in Turin, but being able to serve Turin is the best decision I’ve ever made.” Musar looked at the distant Alps, then turned to Wei Lai and smiled; “It’s a fantastic team!”

Wei looked at Musar: "Tomorrow, they will be our opponents."

Musar shrugged. "Yes! I need to find a way to take them down, but it won't be easy."

Despite their recent slump, Atlético Amsterdam was no less formidable than the giants of the top five leagues during their prime.

After all, they are regulars in the Champions League and have won two titles.

Even in the years of financial investment in football, they have made it to the Champions League knockout stage multiple times, and have even reached the Champions League semi-finals with a group of young players.

Moreover, Wei Lai was even more aware of the immense potential of this team.

What they lack is simply the adjustment process after the system is rebuilt.

In order to adapt to this ever-growing team, he cannot stop moving forward.

Stopping to progress is equivalent to falling behind!
Inside the hotel conference room, Mr. Morton drew three parallel lines on the tactics board.

"Italy's chain defense is the most troublesome aspect. They will wear down our offensive momentum wave after wave, like ocean waves. The first wave slows down and disrupts us, the second wave provides help defense and suppression, and the third wave completes the interception!"

“In defense, they will constantly build this defensive chain, and there are two options to break this defensive chain.”

"The first method is to launch a long pass attack directly from the air."

"The second method is through central penetration, using quick and direct passing and movement to break through the defense!"

"But regardless of which one, there's a key point!"

Old Master Morton looked at everyone and said, "Hurry!"

"It's not just about racing against the opponent, but also about racing against their pace. We can't let them build up their defenses. We need to break through their defenses with the fastest speed and the strongest power in one strike!"

Everyone looked at the tactics board; they had some understanding of the famous Italian chain defense.

"Next, let's discuss the specific characteristics of each player in more detail."

As Mr. Morton explained, the names of the players came up one by one.

Wei Lai listened, somewhat dazed.

Benallister, Buck, Hemes, Wotch, Barkley, etc.
A year ago, these were people he would have looked up to.

Wei Lai's only way of contacting them was through the television!
And now, these people are about to stand alive and well in front of him.

Even for Dieter, who had just become famous, this was an opponent that Wei Lai had never dared to hope to face before.

"Do you understand?" Old Master Morton asked, but no one responded.

The teammates all turned to look at Wei Lai.

Wei Lai also came to his senses, blinked, and immediately expressed his opinion.

"understand!"

Old Master Morton raised an eyebrow; "What did I just say?"

Wei Lai: "I'm sorry! I shouldn't have spaced out!"

puff! ! !
Hahahahaha! !

His teammates couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Wei Lai scratched his head awkwardly, while old man Morton couldn't help but sigh.

This is normal, especially for young players.

After all, these are names that young players like Wei Lai once admired and followed.

"I'll say it again, listen carefully!"

Wei Lai sat up straight: "Okay!"

The following morning, the entire team took a bus to the Turin Arena for a warm-up practice session.

When they set off, a large number of fans had already gathered at the entrance.

These are all die-hard Turin fans, and also Musar fans.

They held up various boards and shouted loudly.

"Musar! You will always be our hero!"

"Go Musel! We wish you all the best for your future!"

"Welcome home, Mussal!"

The number of fans gathered was so large that the bus could hardly move an inch.

This also indirectly shows how popular Musser is in Turin.

After all, he almost became the king of Turin.

Among the crowd, Wei Lai also spotted some fans who had come for Felix.

Felix had a nickname during his prime.

'Blonde Succubus'.

He not only has fans, but also fans who admire his looks.

At first, Wei Lai also thought Felix was really handsome, until he saw Coach Kaká.

He was so handsome!
The time spent on the field was short; we did some simple activities and passing drills, practiced some passing and running combinations and tactical coordination, and then returned to the hotel.

At 15 p.m., they arrived at the Turin Stadium by bus again.

When they arrived, the host team, Atlético Torino, had already arrived at the stadium.

"Wow!"

As Wei Lai entered the stadium, he immediately saw the star players he had once seen on television.

During their youth training period, they pointed at the television screen, and the group of people they were discussing were standing right in front of them.

"Hey! Old Captain!"

Benalist walked over and extended his hand to shake hands and hug Mussal.

Soon, all the Torino players came over to say hello.

Although Musar has left, he remains Torino's midfield guardian.

"Looks like you guys are in good form. Are you aiming for your fourth title this time?" Musar raised an eyebrow. "Or maybe the Champions League?"

Benallister shrugged. "Of course we'd like to, but Dieter is too weak."

“Hey!” Dieter protested; “I’m not that bad, okay!”

After saying that, Dieter looked at Mussal; "You shouldn't have given me the number 10 jersey. Now everyone is watching me, scrutinizing every detail of me with a magnifying glass. They're just waiting for me to make a mistake."

"Will you make mistakes?" Musar asked with a smile.

Dieter puffed out his chest: "Of course not, just wait and see. In the new season, I'll beat Raphael's shit out of him!"

Hahahahaha! !

The teammates couldn't help but laugh loudly.

They liked this ambitious attitude.

Wei Lai was also looking at Dieter. He couldn't understand what these people were talking about, but Dieter was still quite a topic of conversation.

This is the new Torino No. 10, inheriting the mantle of Mussar.

However, Mussar's professional performance was too good, and the fans' expectations of Dieter were too high, which led to the gradual decline of this Italian rising star.

After he left Italy and joined Spain, he regained his vitality, and his position changed to central midfielder.

It turns out he wasn't suited for the defensive midfield position.

He needs to be positioned further forward, otherwise he could easily lose himself.

Morton and Alleria, the two head coaches, also shook hands and exchanged pleasantries.

The two were head coaches from different eras, with Morton being significantly older, for which Aleja still held him in high regard.

Aside from that Dutch madman, Morton is still very much loved and respected in the football world.

Soon, both sides moved to their respective halves of the court to prepare for the match.

Atlético Amsterdam's starting lineup (4-2-3-1):
Goalkeeper: Rutte.

Defenders: Dennis Zilben, Shutak, Cacaronia, Lent.

Midfielders: Robinson, Wei Lai, Musar, Reyessa, Konrad Lehmann.

Forward: Felix.

"Remember! Stay calm when you come on the field. Give the ball to Musar first. Your task is to observe and then find the opponent's weaknesses."

Coach Morton reminded Wei Lai.

Wei Lai blinked at this.

In fact, he knew Torino's weaknesses!

Torino has two major weaknesses, which gradually became apparent in the following seasons.

The first issue is Dieter's inability to adapt to midfield organization.

The second is right-back Livale.

Compared to the first question, the second question is about why Turin suffered a major setback during that period.

Levallo is a full-back with a very strong attacking desire, and therefore he always participates in the attack very actively.

However, compared to his offensive prowess, his defensive drive was not as strong.

The presence of right defensive midfielder Hemes always helps him clean up messes and fills the vacancy.

Hemes was a player with a workaholic nature, but after Hemes left, Leicester City's problems were fully exposed.

If the new defensive midfielder doesn't cover for him, the defensive chain can't be established, and every attack penetrates the defense.

Although Hermes is still around, this weakness that Torino has deliberately hidden can still be exploited.

The reason is simple: Hermes turned very slowly.

Levallos attacked forward, and Hemes covered for him, but he was matched up against Conrad Lehmann.

Wei Lai also possesses a precise long pass that can directly find Konrad Lehmann, creating a one-on-one opportunity for him, which can generate extremely sharp attacks on the counter-attack.

"I'll pass you the ball, and you can either go down the wing or cut inside."

Wei Lai took the initiative to approach Conrad Lehmann.

The latter's eyes lit up; "Buddy, you finally thought of me! I'm very capable!"

Wei Lai nodded in understanding.

In the coming storm of youth development, Konrad Lehrman certainly delivered a performance worthy of a star player. He said in an interview, "I'm the core player, and when the team needs me, I'll step in like a hero!"

He did indeed keep his promise.

In the Champions League Round of 16 and the quarterfinals, he almost single-handedly carried the team forward, leading them into the semifinals.

But they were unlucky; they faced the 'Red Dynasty' Merseyside Reds in the final.

Konrad Lechmann was involved in two goals in the match, but he still couldn't withstand the relentless attacks from Liverpool. In the end, Atlético Amsterdam fell in the final and failed to achieve an epic championship.

That season, Marco de Jong and Denis Zilben also performed well, but they were not able to truly relieve the pressure on Konrad Lehmann.

Wei Lai clenched his fists.

Now, they not only have Konrad Lehmann, but also Felix who is slowly regaining his form, and Mussal.

Perhaps a different situation will emerge.

The prerequisite is that you must reach the level of Marco de Jong.

In the stadium, Wei Lai stood at one end, looking towards the other side.

The famous black and white striped jerseys of Atlético Torino, the rulers of Serie A.

Torino (4-2-3-1):
Goalkeeper: O'Dani.

Defenders: Levallo, Benalist, Buck, Capeskaite.

Midfielders: Quaredo, Hemes, Macki, Dieter, Votchi.

Forward: Kodinatech.

"We're missing two key players." Wei Lai blinked.

Left-back Aktum and center-forward Barkley are both on the bench, but even so, this lineup is still strong.

But as long as Levallos is present, Wei Lai's plan will work.

"Don't be nervous. Based on your previous performance, you can handle this match," Musar said, turning to Wei Lai.

Wei Lai nodded, indicating that he understood.

In fact, he wasn't nervous at all.

It was just a warm-up match!

Rather than feeling nervous, he was more eager to test his abilities and see how he compared to the top players in the five major European leagues.

The referee, brought in by Turin, gestured to both sides and soon blew the whistle to start the match.

Torino kicked off the first half.

The moment the ball was kicked off, Atlético Amsterdam sprinted forward.

Torino, on the other hand, continued to play it safe and steady.

If we were to describe the style of Atlético Amsterdam as a group of energetic and dynamic young people...

Turin, then, is like a composed and experienced adult.

Amsterdam Athletic launched a fierce attack, but Torino maintained a steady passing game.

"Tsk!"

Wei Lai missed his target again and couldn't help but click his tongue in frustration.

No matter how hard they pressed, it seemed impossible to disrupt the opponent's rhythm.

Wei Lai was wondering if high-pressing tactics would be effective.

"Do not worry!"

At that moment, Musar's voice rang out, shouting, "Don't be fooled by their feigned ease, watch their passing lanes carefully!"

Wei Lai suddenly calmed down.

That's right!

Don't be fooled by appearances; Atlético Torino may be in control of the ball.

However, they did not make significant forward progress, but instead relied on the large population base behind them for transmission.

Despite their steady passing of the ball, it was still a risky move.

Try losing possession in your own half?
It's not that they dare not pass it on, it's that they cannot!

High-pressing tactics are still effective!
"Continue the oppression!"

Musar shouted.

Wei Lai mustered his strength again and launched a frenzied attack, pressing and robbing the opponent.

Sure enough, a short while later, Dieter suddenly pulled the ball back, turned, and passed it directly to the wing.

Wei Lai immediately retreated.

First, he was some distance from the opponent with the ball; his task was not to mark or chase them away, but to control the area.

With their attacking routes on the flanks failing to break through, Torino indeed began to move their full-backs around.

"coming!"

Wei Lai's spirits lifted; now it was time to see how this attack and defense would go.

Atletico Torino adopted a five-pronged attack strategy.

Left side, left rib area, central axis, right rib area, right side.

They spread out their formation, fully opening up the width of the field, and during their movements, they also sought opportunities for penetration.

Wei Lai has already pushed up to the edge of his own penalty area.

His and Reyes's task was to act as the first buffer point.

Wherever the ball rolled, they immediately followed and chased it away.

Until the ball rolled to the right wing, Torino finally attempted a long pass towards the penalty area.

boom!
Caccabanja accurately predicted the ball's trajectory and headed it forward.

Wei Lai immediately sprinted forward.

"Stay calm! Control the ball!"

Musar immediately retreated, pressing his hands down to signal for control of the ball.

But at this moment, Wei Lai had already swung his left arm and made a powerful long pass forward.

Yes!

Possession of the ball is important, but Wei Lai knows the opponent's weaknesses, so there's no need to maintain possession.

Seize the weakness and attack it fiercely!

Torino coach Alleria frowned suddenly when he saw Wei Lai launch a long pass.

He knew very well that Wei Lai's pass had landed right in their most vulnerable position.

"Accident?"

Konrad Lechmann stretched out his foot to control the ball. Wei Lai's long pass was very accurate, and he could almost find his dominant foot, which gave him more options.

Konrad Lechmann stopped the ball on his right side, looking like he was about to dribble past his opponent.

This made Hemes wary, and he pressed forward to win the ball.

But at that very moment, Konrad Lechmann suddenly spiked the ball.

He managed to get the ball between Hemes's feet, and after a nutmeg change of direction, he immediately started moving.

Swish!
Konrad Lehmann dribbled past Hemez.

"Oops!"

Torino center-back Benalist immediately tensed up.

Benallister was forced to run towards the forward post to contain and block Conrad Lehmann.

Felix also dragged Buck towards the center.

Konrad Lehmann successfully reached the byline and, before Benalist could react, immediately chipped the ball to the far post.

At the far post, Robinson and Capellster were locked in a tug-of-war. Despite jumping to contest the header, Robinson only managed to glide on the ball and failed to hit the target.

The ball flew out of bounds.

But at that moment, the stadium suddenly fell silent.

The Torino players looked at each other in bewilderment.

They actually managed to launch a counterattack!

If Robinson had headed that ball, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

"such a pity!"

Wei Lai also shook his head regretfully.

Musar also slowly stopped and turned to look at Wei Lai.

He wasn't sure if Wei Lai's long pass was a fluke or intentional.

But he was more inclined to guess. It's normal for young people to be nervous and want to perform well. Guessing a kick is nothing, and it just so happened that it hurt Torino.

But if it wasn't a fluke, then that would be terrifying!

First, he was unsure when Wei Lai had discovered the other party's weakness.

To facilitate this attack, two points need to be understood.

First, Levallos likes to attack, and Hemes will cover for him.

Second: Hermes' slow turning speed can be exploited.

The fact that the Amsterdam Athletic coaching staff did not mention these things indicates a lack of awareness.

So how did Wei Lai find out?

He did watch videos of Atlético Torino's matches, but is it really possible to gather this kind of information from those videos?
"Well"

On the sidelines, old man Morton stroked his chin and suddenly laughed, "So that's what it is!"

"Wei's attempt was crucial; he found a weakness."

Suddenly, Pei Shang asked quietly, "Why do you think it's an experiment?"

Peschan felt like he was going a little crazy.

But in order to collect data on Wei Lai's various changes, he kept a close eye on Wei Lai.

He clearly saw that Wei Lai frequently looked towards the far end after the game started.

Of course, he could be paying attention to Konrad Lehmann's positioning.

However, there's always this unrealistic idea that Wei Lai has already figured out this weakness.

(End of this chapter)