Master Tutoring Class

Chapter 267 Can he kick the midfielder?

Hendrick ran tirelessly, constantly disrupting and assisting in defense.

He even initiated several confrontations with the opposing team, sometimes even going so far as to physically challenge them, but his teammates were unable to control the ball.

But he didn't get discouraged; instead, he continued to shout and remind his teammates.

On the defensive end, Hendrick is the commander!

"You're really putting in a lot of effort!"

Wei Lai couldn't help but sigh.

Hendrick has almost lost his starting position at Sporting Amsterdam.

Despite some criticism off the field, he still gave his all during the game.

These are the Manchester City players trained by manager Forlán; they're completely different from the current crop of players who just shrug.

Wei Lai turned his head; he was still observing Musar.

This is also a great learning opportunity; watching the game from the sidelines allows you to see many details that are not shown in the videos.

Musar moved to a position closer to the left side of his own half, frequently turning his head to observe as he moved.

At the same time, he also maintained a delicate distance from his nearest opponent.

Once Brighton passes the ball to that player, Musar can immediately run over to interfere and block his main attacking route.

Amsterdam's defensive strategy was to leave the flanks open and not the center.

While allowing space to the flanks, the full-backs are required to effectively contain the opponent's crosses.

Both defensive midfielders will follow up to avoid one-on-one situations.

However, when the opposing midfielder helps create a one-on-one situation, it is the full-back's individual ability that is put to the test.

For example, this time, Dennis Chilburne had to face Mitsui Fuji alone.

Reyesa was unable to arrive immediately.

Dennis Zilburn positioned himself sideways to block passing lanes in the middle while keeping a close eye on the flanks.

Mitsui Fuji didn't rush to start, but this gave Dennis Chilburn an opportunity to get closer.

The latter immediately pulled closer, but did not move directly towards him; there was a pause in between.

This caused Mitsui Fujimoto's forward breakthrough to pause. Dennis Chilburn had a positional advantage, and once Mitsui Fujimoto started moving, he would inevitably encounter interference from the opponent's outstretched arm, and might even lose possession of the ball.

But just as Mitsui Fuji hesitated, Dennis Chilburn decisively pressed forward and stabbed him hard with his foot.

The ball struck Mitsui Fuji's ankle and flew out of bounds.

"Ours!"

"He touched the ball!"

The two raised their hands almost simultaneously.

The referee, with his sharp eyes, pointed to Brighton's half, indicating that it was a throw-in for Atlético Amsterdam.

Dennis Zilben immediately picked up the ball and threw it to the center-back Shutak who was there to receive it.

The latter immediately moved to find Musar.

"This is a bit dangerous!"

Wei Lai frowned deeply.

The pass was weak and the ball wasn't fast.

The moment Musar controls the ball, opposing players will follow up to interfere.

But Wei Lai saw that Musar had turned his head to observe in advance and then rushed towards the landing point.

This action prompted the other party to immediately follow suit.

Just as both players reached their landing point, Musar suddenly sidestepped, letting the ball hit the ground and bounce to the side.

This was something Brighton winger Vinnie hadn't expected.

But by the time he tried to shift his focus to catching up with Musar, it was too late.

The latter had already rushed towards the ball, shoved it forward, and strode ahead along the wing.

“So stable!”

Wei Lai grinned.

Musar turned to let the ball pass, something he hadn't expected.

If it were me, I probably would have just toughed it out.

Timing is crucial in this kind of escape; giving way too early makes it easy for the opponent to intercept the pass, while giving way too late might leave you entangled.

"Press it down! Keep applying pressure!"

Musar passed the ball to Diego Ruma again, and immediately sent him to attack the defense.

Diego Ruma's job is to dribble and attack, threatening the opponent's defense while also wearing them down.

boom!
The ball was kicked out of bounds, and Diego Ruma shook his head in disappointment.

Felix frowned; "Handle the ball faster, don't stop for every single one!"

He was not very satisfied with Diego Ruma's style.

His breakthroughs are sharp, his feints are realistic, and his dribbling is also excellent.

But it was processed too slowly.

It's easy for the opponent to get close to you!

This guy can play like this in Argentina, but in Europe, he would never be given that kind of dribbling opportunity.

Brighton have toned it down a bit, after all, this is a Europa League event, not the Premier League.

The refereeing in Europa League matches is quite strict. If they played like they do in the Premier League, Diego Rouma would have been tackled down in just ten minutes.

Felix turned to look at Wei Lai on the bench.

When will my angel be able to play?
It felt like neither Musar nor anyone else's playing style suited him.

The delays were so severe that he made several wasted trips.

"Felix! Come back and be the fulcrum!"

Peschan shouted, then immediately made a downward pressing motion.

'Calm down! Now is not the time!'

Felix could only grit his teeth and endure it.

As time ticked away, both Atlético Amsterdam and Brighton traded attacks, but overall, Brighton's offense was more incisive.

They created several threatening attacks and shots on goal.

In contrast, Atlético Amsterdam mainly relied on dribbling and breakthroughs, but produced very few threatening shots.

Mr. Morton pursed his lips slightly.

He glanced at the time.

With 25 minutes left in the match, Brighton is about to start their offensive surge.

According to the data, Brighton will suddenly increase their attacking pressure and their goal-scoring efficiency will also increase significantly during the 25th-30th minute of the first half and the 70th-80th minute of the second half.

Sure enough, in the next attack, Brighton opted for a simple long pass to find Mitsui Fuji in front.

The latter controlled the ball with his chest, then flicked it with his heel and turned to chase after it.

Dennis Zilburn failed to keep up immediately, causing him to watch as Mitsui Fuji was about to break into the penalty area.

"Danger!"

Dennis Chilburn gritted his teeth and immediately launched a tackle.

boom!
He tackled Mitsui Fujii, ball and all, to the ground, successfully stopping the threatening attack.

However, he also paid the price of a yellow card.

Brighton won a free kick on the left side of the pitch.

Bonaz takes the free kick.

boom!
The set piece was taken, and chaos erupted inside the penalty area.

Brighton striker Vickers headed the ball but failed to get a shot off, though he did disrupt Atlético Amsterdam's defense.

"Danger!"

Dutch commentator Van Gaal couldn't help but shout.

On the Amsterdam bench, Wei Lai nervously clenched his fists.

Mitsui Fuji had already appeared at the landing point. He feigned a shot, tricking Shutak into blocking, and suddenly pushed the ball with the instep of his foot to the far post, where Brighton's full-back Demp made a run forward and slotted the ball into the net.

Swish!
In the 27th minute, Brighton took the lead.

The entire Seagull Stadium suddenly erupted in cheers.

More than 30,000 fans cheered and shouted loudly.
"Beautiful! Japanese player Mitsui Fuji's incredibly realistic feint and pass assists Dempsey to score, giving them their first goal at home!"

Brighton fans and players alike are celebrating.

Amsterdam Athletic were a little frustrated, but they quickly started cheering each other on.

"Hey guys! Cheer up! Our power spike isn't over yet!"

Hendrick shouted, "Stay calm! We can equalize!"

Dutch commentator Van Gaal shook his head; "Athletico Amsterdam's sharp attack has become somewhat ineffective. Without Konrad Lechmann as their explosive point, and with Wei Ye on the bench, their attacking firepower has been significantly suppressed."

Duan Jiang pursed his lips and said, "We're still behind. Wei Lai didn't play, and it feels like Atlético Amsterdam lacked some attacking flair!"

“It’s a lack of creativity!” Liu Zhenghao shook his head: “How about we try bringing Wei Lai on to go toe-to-toe with Brighton?”

Duan Jiang grinned but didn't reply.

This is pure suicide!

At Brighton's home ground, they went toe-to-toe with their opponents, and the current Atlético Amsterdam team struggled to cope with their attacks. Wei Lai's defensive capabilities were insufficient, and he was completely outmaneuvered by the opponent.

After the first goal, the game restarted.

Brighton's overall performance seemed to have improved, especially after the goal, their morale soared.

boom!
In the 36th minute, Lent made a mistake when receiving the ball, he controlled it too heavily.

Brighton winger Vinnie seized the opportunity and immediately started his run, grabbing the ball and surging forward.

Lunt rushed over in a disheveled state, but still couldn't stop the other party.

Vinicius burst into the six-yard box and swept the ball across the face of goal.

Vickers followed up cleverly and slotted the ball into the net.

Brighton leads Atlético Amsterdam 2-0.

"Youngster Vinnie, this is his fifth appearance for Brighton, and he has earned his first assist of the season!"

The Sky Sports commentator cheered loudly.

Brighton are in good form right now, leading by two goals, and have basically secured the victory.

Rent pounded the ground in frustration; his mistake had led to them conceding the ball again.

"The pressure is too much!"

Mr. Morton shook his head. Indeed, simple defense and control were still insufficient to stop the opponent's attack.

Lundt's mistake is a typical example; he panicked when faced with pressure.

"Should we make a change?"

Pessan said nervously.

Mr. Morton shook his head; "Have the players come back, stabilize the score, and make adjustments in the second half."

Pessant nodded.

The plan failed, but that's how competitions are; there are always unexpected situations or misjudgments that can occur.

The coaching staff may have to take the blame for this problem.

They underestimated Brighton's attacking capabilities and placed too much trust in their own defense.

Morton rubbed his temples, feeling a sense of helplessness.

He wouldn't have made this mistake before.

He meticulously compares the data and makes careful arrangements for every detail.

"I guess I'm getting old after all!"

Morton sighed, turned to look at Wei Lai, and then back at the pitch.

Hendrick and Reyessa are similar in type; both are excellent defensive players, though the former may have stronger offensive attributes.

Musar is more of a playmaker, or rather, the current Musar can no longer play like he did in his prime.

It is unlikely that we will place our hopes on Musar.

"Halftime, let's make a substitution!"

Pessan suddenly spoke up: "Let Wei play. At this stage, no one is better at creating opportunities than him!"

“He can do it? He’s only 17!” Mr. Morton said.

Peschan suddenly smiled; "Yes! He's 17, but that's exactly the age to create miracles!"

Mr. Morton: "Aren't we being too idealistic?"

"It doesn't matter. We've already qualified for the knockout stage, and the situation in this match is already quite bad. Let's treat it as practice. I think we can give it a try!"

"Ten minutes!" Old man Morton said slowly; "Wait five minutes in the second half, until the substitution point at the 55-minute mark."

He narrowed his eyes and looked at Brighton's head coach.

Powell, a very contradictory guy.

In terms of ideology, he was an aggressive maniac, but also a pragmatist.

Therefore, he transformed Brighton into a defensive counter-attacking team.

However, under certain circumstances, that desire to attack can become uncontrollable and burst forth.

Will he make a mistake?

Powell raised his arms and shouted, "Go! Well done!"

"That's right! Exactly! We'll attack them, keep them at bay, their heads are already malfunctioning, now is our chance!"

"Vickers, push him down!"

"Vinnis! Be confident! Be confident! Get past him!"

"Mitsui! Break down the door! Break down the door!"

Ding!
The ball hit the crossbar, bounced, and flew out of bounds.

It was a pity, but it also stimulated Powell's senses, and he looked at the field with unusual excitement.

Every offensive play was executed very smoothly.

Every pass and movement was executed with remarkable coordination.

"Who says we played ugly?" Powell exclaimed excitedly; "Look how beautifully they played!"

Immediately, he turned to look at the bench, his eyes shining.

"So close! Just a little bit more and we could have crushed Atlético Amsterdam!"

He was looking for an outlet for the team's firepower.

With just one more attacking threat, they could completely dismantle Atlético Amsterdam's stubbornly resisting defense.

"Robinette! Go warm up!"

In the second half, he will intensify the attack.

They completely crushed Atlético Amsterdam.

The match has entered halftime.

The players at Atlético Amsterdam are making tactical arrangements in the locker room.

Wei Lai had already run to the field to warm up, accompanied by Pessan.

"There will be tactical changes in the second half, and not just tactics, your position will also change!"

Peschan pointed at Wei Lai; "You come and play as a central midfielder!"

Wei Lai was taken aback for a moment: "Am I playing as a central midfielder?"

It's not that he's never played in this position, but in professional matches, his position is fixed as a defensive midfielder.

The central midfielder is a position that is more offensively oriented.

Wei Lai: "Should I replace Musar?"

"No!" Peschan shook his head: "You replace Hendrick!"

Wei Lai was stunned for a moment: "Let's fight a direct confrontation!"

Musar retreated as a rear organizer, accompanied by Reyessa, the sweeper.

Wei Lai plays as a central midfielder, and his only task is to play the central midfielder position.

Develop an offensive!
“You’ll be on the field for 35 minutes, and you’ll have 55 minutes to perform.” Pessan patted Wei Lai on the shoulder: “We believe you can do this job well.”

After receiving the mission instructions, Wei Lai began to devise the competition plan.

Based on his observations of the first half, he also had some ideas.

First, the flanks must be utilized. We can change the direction of the strong-to-weak tactic, making Diego Ruma the firepower draw point on the strong side, while having Robinson make runs.

Robinson has a good awareness of making forward runs, and when combined with his passes, he can pose a certain degree of threat.

Secondly, her cooperation with Felix will be closer, with more short passing combinations.

Finally, it's time to participate in the attack!
That's right!

In the mid-forward position, the overall positioning needs to be forward, so Wei Lai needs to join the attack.

When he plays as a defensive midfielder, he stands at most in the flank area, taking on a support role.

However, the central midfielder needs to make frequent forward runs.

He is not only the one who initiates the attack, but also the one who has to finish it.

Moreover, the signals released by the coaching staff clearly indicate that they want to place the blame on themselves, which makes Wei Lai even more important, gives him more power, and provides him with more room to maneuver.

It's fair to say that in the second half, once the ball reached his feet, he needed the cooperation of his teammates on both sides, including Felix in front of him.

This is exactly the concept of an offensive core!

The only difference is that Wei Lai does not have unlimited firing rights.

Of course, even if he is given the right to shoot, he may not necessarily score a goal.

In the second half, the two sides switched sides and started playing.

Ten minutes into the game, Brighton made their first substitution, intending to put pressure on the opponent.

Powell made two substitutions, increasing the attacking capabilities in the frontcourt and the attacking creativity in the midfield.

This is a strategy to carry the attack through to the end!
Clearly, Powell and his team were not satisfied with the score.

This was a substitution made first.

Generally, the team with the advantage will make substitutions later, depending on the opponent's choices.

But Powell took an unconventional approach; he aimed to break down Atlético Amsterdam's defense before the opponent could make any substitutions.

"What a greedy fellow!"

Mr. Morton's expression turned annoyed.

He thought the opponent would only substitute one player at most, but unexpectedly they put two slots on the offensive end.

"Prepare to make a substitution!"

Mr. Morton waved his hand; "Let Powell pay the price for his arrogance!"

In the 58th minute, during a dead ball situation, Atlético Amsterdam made a substitution.

Hendrick was substituted off, and Wei Lai came on as a substitute.

Dennis Zilbern was substituted off and Kovic came on as a substitute.

Dennis Ziel already had a yellow card, so for the sake of stability, manager Morton substituted him off the field.

Moreover, the replacement of Mitsui Fuji with French winger Robinette adds weight to the flanks, and Morton also needs to make some supplements.

At the very least, Kovic has more stamina and can hold out for a short period of time.

Next, we'll see how Armstrong singles team chooses to attack.

"Wei Lai! He came on as a substitute in the 58th minute. Atletico Amsterdam didn't sit idly by. Coach Morton sent Wei Lai on, which means he's trying to develop their attacking firepower!"

Wei Lai ran onto the court and went straight to the front of the middle.

Liu Zhenghao, with his sharp eyes, spotted this scene.

"Will Wei Lai play as a central midfielder?"

Musar has dropped back to stand parallel to Reyessa, and Wei Lai's position clearly indicates he is a central midfielder.

Liu Zhenghao and Duan Jiang exchanged a glance, both of them filled with doubt.

Can Wei Lai play as a central midfielder?

Or rather, they've never seen Wei Lai play as a central midfielder!
"Can Wei still play as a central midfielder?"

Deco looked puzzled.

He had just trained with the first team from the reserve team, and as a native of the youth training system, he received some preferential treatment.

For example, in this match, although he was not included in the squad, he came as a staff member to experience the atmosphere of the European competition.

Dennis Chilburn took a big gulp of water and wiped his mouth.

"Of course! Or rather, this position was tailor-made for him!"

“Five balls!” Hendrick spread his fingers.

"Without defensive or playmaking duties, Wei focused entirely on offense, creating five goals in a single training match!"

Deke was dumbfounded.

He had experienced the training matches of Atlético Amsterdam firsthand, and he found it difficult to keep up with the pace, let alone attack or assist.

Deco turned to look at Wei Lai.

This guy is a year younger than me, how come he's so strong?
(End of this chapter)