A new plan
The strategy had been used by Ralph Rangnick, a manager known for his innovative approach.
The idea was simple yet effective: leave an empty spot on the field that would lure the opponent into passing the ball there.
Once the ball was played into this space, the team would launch an aggressive pressing move with many players to cut off the pass and regain possession quickly.
Kay found this tactic intriguing, especially considering Watford's strengths. Their dangerous left side was where most of their attacks originated, and if Starlight FC could steer the ball away from that area, they would reduce the threat significantly.
Kay decided to adapt Rangnick's tactic to suit his team's needs. Instead of leaving an empty space anywhere on the field, he would focus on the right side.
Kay's plan was to leave the right side of the field slightly open, tempting Watford to play the ball there.
This would naturally keep the ball away from their dangerous left side, where their key players could cause dangerous attempts.
By drawing the play to the right, Starlight FC could force Watford to abandon their usual attacking routes.
Once the ball was played into the open space, Kay's team would pounce with aggressive pressing, quickly closing down the opponents and winning back possession.
This approach would not only neutralize Watford's strength but also give Starlight FC the opportunity to control the pace of the game.
By controlling where the ball was played, they could disrupt Watford's rhythm and prevent them from settling into their preferred style of play.
The key to this tactic was discipline and coordination. Every player needed to be fully aware of their role, ready to spring into action the moment Watford's players passed the ball into the empty space.
Kay spent the rest of the evening preparing detailed instructions for his team.
He knew this tactic required precision, if any player lost focus or failed to press aggressively, the plan could backfire. But Kay had faith in his players.
The next day, as the sun was just beginning to rise over the stadium, Kay was already at the field, making final preparations.
He carefully set up the cones and markers for the day's training session, mentally reviewing the plan he had made the night before. This match was going to be crucial, and every detail mattered.
As he worked, Kay noticed movement out of the corner of his eye. Turning his head, he saw his players walking onto the field, one by one.
At first, he expected just a few of them will come, but soon he realized that all of his players had arrived.
It wasn't just the starting lineup; even those who weren't guaranteed to play were there. Kay was shocked, in the best way possible.
The sight of the entire team gathered so early, filled him with pride. It was clear that they were all determined to win, ready to give everything they had, even their day off.
"Alright, everyone, I'm impressed by all of you being here. It shows me how much you want this, and that's exactly the mindset we need to take into this match."
He then began to share what he had learned about their next opponent, Watford's youth team.
He started by mentioning the key players they would face. Kay didn't need to say much about these players, his team already knew them well from previous matches.
Kay continued, "But this time, we're not just playing against individual talent. We're up against a team that hasn't lost in three months, a team that's been at the top of the standings since the beginning of the season. And their manager, Sergio Busquets, is no stranger to our style of play. He's a smart coach, and he'll be looking for any weakness to exploit."
The players listened intently, their faces serious. Kay then moved on to the plan he had devised, explaining it in clear, simple terms.
He talked about the tactic of leaving an empty spot on the right side of the field, "We're going to let them think they've found an opening, but it's a trap. When they try to use that space, we'll press aggressively, win the ball back, and turn it into our advantage. This will keep the ball away from their dangerous left side."
He emphasized the importance of discipline and timing. "This plan will only work if we all stay focused and work together. If we press too early or too late, it won't work"
After explaining the initial tactic to his team, Kay took a deep breath and looked around at his players.
He knew that this match against Watford would require more than just one clever plan. It was going to take adaptability, intelligence, and the ability to switch strategies on the fly.
"I'm confident in this plan, but I'm also sure that one plan won't be enough. Busquets is a smart manager, and he'll be looking for ways to counter us. That's why, in the coming days, I'm going to introduce other tactics as well. We need to be ready for anything they throw at us."
Kay continued, "Now, let's get started on the training. For the next three days, we'll focus on a few key drills that are crucial to our game plan."
He led them onto the field, where he had set up cones and markers in various formations. The players gathered around, eager to begin.
"The first drill," Kay explained, pointing to a section of the field, "is all about coordinated pressing. We'll have multiple players pressing the opponent at the same time. The key is timing, everyone has to move together, as a unit. If even one of you is out of sync, the whole press falls apart. We're going to practice this over and over until it becomes second nature."
He then demonstrated the drill. Three players would approach a single opponent with the ball, coming at them from different angles.
The goal was to close down space quickly, forcing the opponent into a mistake or winning back possession.
The players took their positions and began the drill, moving in unison as Kay guided them with sharp instructions.
Kay warned, watching them closely. "It's going to take time, this tactic isn't easy. It requires every single one of you to participate and be fully engaged. But if we get it right, we'll be able to suffocate their play and create chances for ourselves."
The players were sweating and focused, understanding the intensity and precision required for this kind of pressing.
After the first drill, Kay moved on to explain the second one.
"This next drill is all about positioning when the opponent has the ball. We need to make sure that every player knows where they should be, depending on where the ball is on the field. This will help us create fake spaces in the spots we want them to play the ball toward."
As the players continued their training, Kay began to notice that a few of them seemed uncertain.
Their movements were hesitant, and the energy they had shown earlier was beginning to wane.
Kay knew that look; the doubt, the suspicion that maybe this new tactic wasn't going to work.
It was a natural reaction, especially when trying something unfamiliar and complex.
Understanding their concerns, Kay decided to pause the training. He blew his whistle and called the players over, gathering them in a circle around him.
"I can see that some of you are having doubts," Kay began, his voice calm but firm. "And that's okay. It's normal to be suspicious of new things, especially when they seem complicated. But I want to explain to you why this tactic can work, and why I believe in it."
He paused, making sure he had everyone's attention. "Let me ask you something. When you're playing on the field and you see an empty space, what's your first instinct?"
"To pass the ball there," one of the players answered quickly.
"Exactly," Kay said with a nod.
See you in the next chapter...