Master Tutoring Class

Chapter 278 Marseille Turn
The sunsets in Amsterdam always have a painterly quality.

The magnificent Amsterdam Arena was bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun.

The stands were already packed with people, with cheers rising and falling like a tidal wave.

An unusual sense of anticipation and restlessness filled the air.

The two sides facing off are AC Milan FC, a powerhouse among powerhouses that has won the Champions League seven times and boasts the French midfield maestro Rafael.

On the other hand, there is the resurgent young guard, Atlético Amsterdam.

At 36, Rafael is no longer as agile as he once was, and upon closer inspection, his temples are streaked with gray. However, his deep eyes still sparkle with the purest understanding and control of football. His very existence is a living philosophy of football.

On the other side is the 'young rising star', Wei Lai. His composure, accurate passing, and broad vision, which are beyond his years, have earned him the title of 'new De Jong' from the Dutch media.

Inside the locker room, Wei Lai quietly tied his shoelaces, his gaze falling on the wall inside his locker, where a poster was pasted.

At his home stadium in Madrid, tens of thousands of arms waved for him, and he opened his arms like a king, as if to embrace everything.

This is a scene from the 2021/2022 season when Rafael led Madrid to victory over Atlético Barcelona.

This is a poster he treasures and always carries with him.

Every time I feel exhausted or in pain, looking at this poster always gives me a renewed sense of hope.

The longing and admiration in Wei Lai's eyes gradually faded, replaced by a sharp look.

Today, he will stand before his idol as an opponent.

His heart was pounding, not from nervousness, but from an excitement that made every cell in his body seem to be cheering.

Inside the tunnel, players from both teams lined up to enter the field.

Wei Lai's gaze pierced through the crowd and precisely found that familiar yet unfamiliar figure.

Raphael was bowing his head slightly, adjusting his captain's armband, his expression calm and serene.

He seemed to sense the gaze behind him, and slowly turned around, his eyes meeting Wei Lai's in mid-air.

Without sparks or hostility, Raphael's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile of praise and encouragement.

His expression stunned Wei Lai.

'Does he know me?'

puff!
Hendrick, looking at Wei Lai's expression with his head tilted, couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Musar, Felix, and others also looked on as if they were watching a spectacle.

Wei Lai, on the other hand, was completely confused about the situation.

Musar patted Wei Lai on the shoulder: "Of course he knows you. Someone called him specifically to say that a young man plans to teach him a lesson in this match!"

Wei Lai was stunned once again.

"what?"

Felix: "Don't tease him, Hendrick said 'tribute'."

"Don't worry!" Felix winked at Wei Lai. "He seems to have a pretty good impression of you!"

"All right!"

Hendrick clapped his hands and shouted, "Focus! Prepare for battle!"

The referee walked onto the field first, followed by players from both sides leading their caddies onto the field.

"This is the 2027/2028 UEFA Europa League Round of 16 match between Sporting Amsterdam and FC Milan!"

"This match features two midfield maestros, French midfielder Rafael and Italian midfielder Mussar. It's a clash that transcends time and comes from a previous era, while also featuring rising talents like Wei and Leo."

"Alright, let's turn our attention to the field, the game is about to start!"

The starting lineup of both parties:

Amsterdam Athletic (4-3-2-1):
Goalkeeper: Rutte.

Defenders: Dennis Zilben, Shutak, Kakabanja, Lent.

Midfielders: Hendrick, Mussar, Wei Lai.

Shadow strikers: Diego Ruuma, Konrad Lehmann.

Forward: Felix.

Milan FC (3-5-2):

Goalkeeper: Michelle Cage.

Defenders: Maklikov, Tosmori, Capeso.

Midfielders: Junal, Adria, Rafael, Prielette, Jimmy.

Forwards: Leo, Imose.

"They really don't learn their lesson at all!"

Mr. Morton shook his head and turned to look at the Milan FC coaching bench, where head coach Conca was.

"The 3-5-2 formation is very dependent on wing-backs. Jimmy and Yunaer must be able to run up and down and vertically, and always participate in both attack and defense. This formation can be flexibly changed, but it is also a great test for the defense!"

"Without the protection of full-backs, the three midfielders are too far apart. Once they lose their rhythm, they will easily suffer from the lack of space!"

"Serie A has a slower pace, which makes this style of play suitable. However, in European competitions, the pace is faster and stronger. If the wing-backs can't drop back in time, they will suffer a great loss!"

Peschan looked at old man Morton: "So, you're letting Wei dictate the offensive rhythm and choices?"

Wei Lai's style is the kind that's quick to stab you in the back!

At the moment of transition between offense and defense, many people will choose to control one side and observe the situation more closely.

But Wei Lai doesn't care about any of that. He will observe in advance and use his passing skills to pass the ball forward.

It's like stabbing someone with a knife; whether it works or not, once the knife is in, you're bound to bleed.

It can be said that when Wei Lai's style encounters this kind of loose formation, every attack is deadly.

Of course, this is a tactical intention; the actual performance of the players will determine the course of the match.

Even if the head coach has the best tactical arrangements, if the performance on the field is subpar, it's all for nothing.

Beep!
A sharp whistle pierced the sky, and the match began.

With the referee's long whistle, Milan FC kicked off first.

The Milan players, dressed in red and black jerseys, instantly began to move. After a few simple passes, the ball naturally came to Rafael's feet near the center circle.

Wei Lai frowned slightly, looking at Raphael's position, and felt something was wrong. He quickly stepped forward to defend him closely.

With a deft snap and pull, Raphael revealed the beginnings of the 'Marseille turn'.

But this time, Wei Lai seemed to have anticipated this. He didn't completely lose his position, but cleverly blocked the ball with his body. Although he failed to intercept the ball, he effectively slowed down the attack.

"To the left! Move forward a little!"

Wei Lai reminded his teammates that he was going to block Rafael's next pass. After the latter passed the ball back, he ran to his left side again and successfully got out of position from Wei Lai.

After Rafael moved, he received the ball again on the left side, and Hendrick quickly closed in, trying to use his body to interfere.

This time, however, Raphael did not intend to use any tricks. Instead, he used his body to forcefully block the position and used his left foot as a pivot to complete the turn.

"This guy!"

Hendrick gritted his teeth.

There was a time when this guy was constantly losing in physical duels in the Premier League, getting knocked around and falling over. Now, his use of physical dueling skills is superb.

Rafael completed a graceful 180-degree turn, taking full advantage of Hendrick's momentum from the tackle. After getting rid of him, he didn't even look up, but instead used his left foot to send a long, low pass over 40 meters long.

The ball, like a precise scalpel, pierced through Amsterdam Atlético de Amsterdam's entire midfield defense, landing perfectly in front of the high-speed forward runner, the young Portuguese player, Leo.

The latter swept the ball across the front of the goal without stopping it, and the striker rushing in from the middle almost touched the ball!

The whole audience exclaimed!

"Damn! That was terrifying!"

Wei Lai stood there, slightly out of breath.

For the first time, he truly felt the power of that 'rhythm'.

Amsterdam's 'fast' pace seems to fall on cotton when compared to Raphael's 'slow' pace.

That wasn't a defeat in the contest, but a crushing defeat in football intelligence.

Wei Lai took a deep breath, his gaze becoming even more focused.

"It's our turn!"

Amsterdam launched the ball along the sideline, and after a few passes, it reached Wei Lai's feet.

Wei Lai took a deep breath, focused his gaze, and felt his body's sense of touch heightened, with every cell in his body actively engaged.

Time seemed to slow down at that moment.

He did not immediately accelerate, nor did he rush to pass the message forward.

He simply tapped the ball lightly with the outside of his left foot, shaking off Milan FC striker Leo's symbolic challenge, and then looked up to observe.

He didn't run much, and was even a bit slow, but every touch of the ball was just right.

His passes seemed to spread out, turning into lines that connected him with his teammates, making their relationship even closer.

A glance, a gesture, a simple reminder, a pass ahead of time.

The ball moves smoothly across the field, creating new spaces, while the Amsterdam Athletic players, guided by specific patterns, are slowly advancing.

Wei Lai constantly observed and pondered.

He felt his mind was very excited and very sharp.

The humidity of the air, the coolness of the breeze, the subtle changes in the muscles with each confrontation.

These are all things that one can perceive.

"Slow down! This 'slowness' hides a deadly danger!"

Wei Lai's gaze sharpened.

Coach Harvey once said, "Slow is for better speed!"
Unbeknownst to many, Wei Lai received the ball in the midfield area during the advance.

Raphael watched this scene in astonishment. He had no idea why the situation had turned out this way. With several teleportations and the constant appearance and disappearance of space, Wei Lai had already appeared in a relatively dangerous position before he could even process it.

"Wright, keep an eye on him! I'm coming!"

Raphael immediately retreated, intending to join the defense. He couldn't stand idly by in this situation.

After a one-two pass with Diego Ruma, Wei Lai received the ball again.

At this moment, with Diego Ruma pressing forward, their three forwards were already positioned in the gaps between the opponent's three midfielders.

All it takes is a perfectly timed through ball!

Wei Lai looked up, and at that moment, he heard the sound of rapid footsteps beside him.

The ball, which was originally intended to be passed out, was suddenly stepped on by Wei Lai and pulled sideways, widening the distance again.

Wei Lai dodged Prillette's outstretched foot, but he encountered interference from Raphael's side defense.

Pupils constricted, heart rate increased!
In the blink of an eye, Morton's words seemed to echo in my ears.

"Inspiration comes in a flash, try to capture it!"

Wei Lai's mind went blank, but his body had already reacted.

He planted his right foot, shifted his weight, and rammed his shoulder into Raphael, stopping the latter's pressing.

The impact created a slight opening in the resistance.

Wei Lai continued to follow his instincts, using his right foot as a pivot to turn and pull the ball back.

A sudden 'Marseille turn' appeared on the field, and the moment Wei Lai started his sprint again, he had already broken through the double team.

"what?"

"Damn it!"

Prillette and Raphael stared wide-eyed.

They never expected that Wei Lai would achieve a breakthrough in this way!
Wei Lai pressed straight at Milan FC's defense, and the three defenders quickly retreated.

Lehmann, Diego Ruma, and Felix.

The three people were positioned in the gap, always ready to move forward.

As Wei Lai pressed forward, Milan FC's defenders had entered the penalty area, with nowhere left to retreat.

"Press up!"

Just as center-back Tosmori turned back and charged toward Wei Lai, Diego Ruma actually stopped in his tracks.

He needs to create space.

boom!
Sure enough, Wei Lai flicked the ball with the back of his foot, sending it to Diego Ruma.

The latter adjusted his movements with small steps and suddenly shoved diagonally.

"Offside!"

"Offside!"

The remaining two Milan center-backs pointed at Felix, who was in an offside position, and yelled at him.

But Felix's lips curled into a smile, and he simply spread his legs and let the ball pass by.

The real killers always lurk in the shadows!

Swish!
At the far post on the left, Konrad Lechmann made a run forward from the back row and, without any interference, met the ball with a low shot.

The ball bounced slightly, just avoiding the goalkeeper's outstretched leg, and crashed into the net on the side of the goal.

The match started 11 minutes ago.

Atletico Amsterdam scored first!

“Gooooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaal!!!!”

Dutch commentator Van Gaal slammed his fist on the table and cheered excitedly.

"Konrad Lechmann helped us score a goal!"

Immediately, he shouted again:

"Wei! It's Wei again! A magnificent turn, as if paying homage to Raphael's Marseille turn. He illuminated the entire attack with Raphael's signature move. No one expected him to make such a choice from that position. It's illogical, but it's full of creativity!"

"The moment Wei broke through, Atlético Amsterdam was now in a four-on-three situation. Yes! They wouldn't miss this attacking opportunity; perfect tactical execution!"

"Diego Ruma's pause, Felix's offside misplaced pass, Konrad Lehmann's late run from deep and finishes the attack!"

"Atletico Amsterdam scores in the 11th minute! Let's celebrate this brilliant attack!"

Wow!!!!!!--

Wei Lai yelled and charged at Conrad Lehmann, jumping onto his back and throwing a powerful punch.

Excitement! Thrill! My blood is boiling with uncontrollable excitement!

In fact, he didn't even know why he made that choice at the time, but that's what he did.

It was as if his body's instinct made him do this.

He presented the Marseille turn, which he had practiced countless times clumsily, in the official competition in the most magnificent way.

"Dude, you're so cool!"

Konrad Lehmann also excitedly hugged Wei Lai.

At that moment, when Raphael was assisting in the defense, Wei Lai thought the attack was over.

But this guy managed to get past both of them with a Marseille turn.

Konrad Lehmann was absolutely furious and kept charging forward.

He knew that their young midfielder and teammates would get the ball to his feet in the most reasonable way.

"Ruma! Ruma!"

Wei Lai roared excitedly.

"I'm here!"

Diego Ruma ran up to Wei Lai.

The two hugged each other tightly.

"Dude! You're so cool, you actually paused for a second, hahaha! You actually paused for a second, oh my god! That's amazing!"

If Diego Ruma hadn't made that move, Wei Lai would have risked being offside and would have had to try a lob or a diagonal pass.

But neither of these is the best answer!

Diego Ruma stopped the ball, Felix let it slip through, all of this disrupted Milan FC's defense and contributed to the goal.

“I saw it! I saw Lehmann making a forward run, and I saw Felix interfering.” He stared at Wei Lai, his cheeks flushed with excitement; “Stopping is the best option!”

clap clap!

Felix placed his large hands on Wei Lai and Diego Ruma's heads and laughed loudly:

"You two did a fantastic job!"

Wei Lai's Marseille turn ignited the attack.

Diego Ruma's pause was equally crucial.

The Amsterdam Athletic players retreated happily amidst cheers.

Raphael watched Wei Lai's retreating figure, his gaze becoming serious.

This attack showed that Atlético Amsterdam came prepared.

Wei Lai's performance also exceeded his expectations.

The game resumed.

Rafael controlled the ball in the center circle, constantly dribbling, turning, and changing direction, trying to shake off Wei Lai's close marking.

Despite his disheveled state, Wei Lai was always able to quickly launch a counterattack.

Raphael felt somewhat strained.

In the past, he would have already broken through by the first turn.

But he didn't dislike the feeling.

Just as I once paid homage to that great French legend, the young man before me had a burning gaze and a fierce, fighting spirit.

He is trying to have a 'dialogue' with himself in his own way, through the methods of football.

"Raphael is slowing down the pace a bit!"

Pessant raised an eyebrow.

Mr. Morton smiled and shook his head; "It's hard not to be affected! Players are human too, they have emotions, they're not just tactical tools. When a little guy is giving his all and shouting his most passionate cheers at you, he wants to respond as much as possible!"

boom!
Wei Lai poked the ball, successfully pushing it out of bounds.

Despite failing to regain possession of the ball, he still cheered excitedly.

Raphael got up from the ground, looked at his somewhat weak legs, and shook his head slightly.

Every turn was clumsy, and every push-off lacked power and explosiveness.

Looking at the vibrant young man, as full of life as the rising sun, I felt like a withered flower, slowly fading away.

"Give me!"

Rafael ran forward, and the full-back immediately threw the ball over.

Wei Lai quickly followed up.

Rafael jumped slightly, and the moment the ball landed, he lightly tapped the ground with his foot, managing to pass the ball through Wei Lai's legs.

Rafael turned around, braced himself against Wei Lai's body with his arm to stop the opponent's interference, and then passed the ball forward.

Raphael was slightly out of breath after completing the entire routine.

"You still need to improve."

Swish!
A figure flashed past him as Wei Lai rushed towards the back of the field.

"I am coming!!--"

Raphael opened his mouth slightly, his lips growing increasingly bitter.

(End of this chapter)