Football: Starting with managing Manchester United

Chris Woods turned on the projector and connected it to his laptop.

With Zhang Yang's promotion, his salary was increased by the club according to the salary of youth coaches, and he did not replace assistant coaches such as Phil Neville.

Instead, it serves as a means of showcasing tactical execution, youth training integration, and data support.

Chris Woods patted his brown hair; he had taken a shower last night and tossed and turned because he couldn't sleep.

This caused his hair to become a bit frizzy.

Even now, I still feel a bit confused. I feel like I have a lot of thoughts in my head, but I don't know what I'm thinking.

"Chris".

Zhang Yang called out to Chris Woods and gently soothed his anxiety, "Just follow the youth team's format."

Chris Woods and he graduated from the same class at the Cologne Sports Academy.

Both of them were also members of the school team.

Zhang Yang played as a defensive midfielder, and Chris Woods was the goalkeeper.

I have to say, this guy is pretty good at guarding the goal.

Perhaps it's related to his sensitivity to data; their previous success in winning the Premier League U21 title was largely thanks to his data analysis.

He's just a bit dull.

Zhang Yang still remembers Chris Woods stammering and failing to explain himself clearly during his admissions presentation.

They were completely different from the foreigners he had imagined.

"Okay, now out of the 32 players in the first team, seven are injured. Robin van Persie has a knee injury and won't be fully recovered until the end of April."

"Fellaini's calf strain needs further observation, Wayne Rooney injured his left toe, played in the Champions League with the injury and the injury has been fluctuating, but the doctor said it's not a big problem, just a minor inflammation."

Chris Woods is slowly getting into the game.

"Our next league opponent is Everton. This is their starting lineup. The player we need to pay the most attention to is striker Lukaku."

"..."

A football match is not simply a matter of you attacking and me defending.

With the continuous development of technology, datafication remains very common.

Looking at the projection screen, Zhang Yang tapped the table lightly with his index finger, waited a moment, and then said, "Does anyone have anything to say?"

"Shouldn't we first determine our core tactics?" Phil Neville spoke first.

He's no saint; he's a bully on the pitch. Back then, he and his brother tackled Reyes hard, ruining Arsenal's talent and leaving him with a deep psychological scar.

I could sense the displeasure in Phil Neville's tone.

Zhang Yang's arrogance is understandable.

After all, the team didn't select Giggs; they should have chosen him as the interim coach.

They were all from Class 92, so naturally they looked down on outsiders.

Even though Zhang Yang had been Ferguson's assistant coach.

Jealousy is a valid reason.

Zhang Yang remained silent. The games he had played, such as Football Manager and FIFA, as well as the countless tactical guides he had browsed, were frantically merging with his original memories.

"442, please."

Zhang Yang finally spoke.

He wasn't just saying that casually; when Ferguson was managing Manchester United, his favorite formation was 4-4-2.

Ferguson's use of the 4-4-2 system evolved from the traditional English style to a combination of the continental system.

This is also the key reason why this system has been able to accompany Manchester United for more than 20 years.

Zhang Yang also has a lot of insights into this system: "At present, for us, we cannot let the players adapt to the new tactics, but rather the tactics should be adapted to the existing players."

First of all, this formation is the tactical foundation of Manchester United during the Ferguson era.

It not only fits the muscle memory of the first-team veterans, but also minimizes the shortcomings of the lineup caused by injuries, and can seamlessly integrate the habits of youth players such as Januzaj.

Looking at Rooney now, where is the tank-like spirit he once possessed?

It seems they're focusing all their energy on older women.

Therefore, Rooney should be moved back to minimize physical contact, and a partner who can run and tackle should be given to him.

Moyes is playing Rooney as a lone striker. Can this chubby guy handle it?

The flanks also provide space for fast players like Ashley Young, Valencia, and Nani to perform.

A tactical meeting lasted a long time.

Chris Woods looked at Zhang Yang with admiration, then glanced at Neville, who remained silent and did not ask any more questions.

It was the same back in school.

Zhang Yang always managed to persuade all his opponents with his silver tongue.

"If everyone has no questions, then we'll train using this tactic when the players return tomorrow. I hope everyone gets along well."

Zhang Yang didn't try to ingratiate himself with Neville and his former assistant coach; on the contrary, his cold expression seemed to say something.

I've finished speaking. Who agrees and who disagrees?

The meeting room fell silent for a few seconds.

It seems no one objects.

Squeak! Zhang Yang pushed the chair out, got up, and was thinking as he left.

The players are the ones who execute his tactics; he has enough players of his own caliber. The players are the most important problem he needs to solve.

As for how to establish one's own prestige.

He needs a victory.

A victory that can overwhelm all doubts.

Then nothing could be better than beating Everton, a team that sits five points ahead of them and leads Manchester United.

......

A press conference was held in the new media room in Carrington in the afternoon.

Zhang Yang sat in front of the reporters, calmly facing the flashing lights.

"Dear journalists, good afternoon."

"First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Board, Mr. Woodward, and Sir Alex Ferguson for their trust in giving me the opportunity to take on this weighty responsibility as the interim head coach of Manchester United's first team and lead the team to the end of the season."

"Manchester United is my favorite team, bar none."

"So I know we are facing a huge crisis now."

"We will unite to solve it. Yes, I will work with my players to give the fans a satisfying end to the season."

"..."

The speech was written yesterday.

The reporters in the audience, who are like sharks, certainly wouldn't be satisfied with this kind of news.

They all raised their hands to ask pointed questions.

"Mr. Zhang, you have never managed a top club in one of the top five European leagues. Are you confident you can lead Manchester United out of this predicament?"

Do Chinese people really understand football?

Listening to the reporters' questions.

Zhang Yang knew that some people wanted to provoke him and see his ugly side when he broke down.

Then there are the trending news stories.

"I believe in the abilities of myself and my colleagues, and I also believe in the abilities of the Manchester United players."

"And I understand the Manchester United spirit better than anyone here."

Zhang Yang looked at the reporters quietly.

"Wearing 'Can I do this?' and 'What if I can't?' on your face and giving up before you even start is never our style."

"If Sir Matt Busby had given up 60 years ago, there wouldn't be the Manchester United we know today. If Sir Alex Ferguson had given up 16 years ago, there wouldn't have been the Camp Nou miracle. If you want to hear more, I can still tell you, but I'm too lazy to say that much."

Zhang Yang shrugged, then his expression suddenly turned cold.

"Finally, Chinese people may not understand football, but I certainly understand it better than you. You're a reporter for The Sun, right? I'm looking forward to how you'll report on me after the season ends."

After saying that, Zhang Yang left the conference room.

Mike, the reporter who was named, gritted his teeth. Being publicly ridiculed in front of his colleagues would definitely make him a laughing stock.

"You should pray you don't lose too badly in the next game!"

Mike yanked his press pass hard, already having come up with a headline for the report.

The Sun: More arrogant than Mourinho, can Manchester United's interim manager hold out until May?