Training and Signings

Edward walked through the facilities at Brighton, currently abuzz with remodelling work. The air was filled with a mix of construction noise and the distant sound of players going through their paces on the training grounds. As they prepared for their first pre-season game, Edward reflected on the changes that had taken place and the list of new signings that had walked through the doors.

There was Erling Haaland who came in for £3m, Nicolo Barella and Pascal Gross also coming in for similar fees, while on the offensive end Jack Grealish joined for a fee of £5m that would rise to £8m along with a 20% profit sell-on clause. Then there was Rodri who joined for £9m, Manuel Akanji for £4m, Dusan Vlahovic for £2m and Valverde for £4m.

These were the deals that had been easily completed, with the clubs not budging much on Brighton's initial offers.

However, some deals had required Edward and his team to flex their negotiation skills. Matthijs de Ligt had been one such case. Despite the player having only featured in a handful of games for Ajax, the Dutch club remained firm, refusing to let him go for a low fee. Eventually, they settled on an upfront fee of £7 million, with incentives that could see the deal rise to £18 million, alongside a 15% profit sell-on clause.

There were also other surprise pickups like Declan Rice who joined for a meagre £3m, Edward had decided to sign the player after one of his scouts recommended him alongside other players for their youth team.

Of course, Declan Rice, if Edward's memory was correct, would breakout in this very season, so Edward was sure he'd be staying far away from their youth teams.

As Edward reached the medical room, he looked down to see the new head sports scientist and physiotherapists pacing around, preparing for the day's assessments. Inside, Jadon Sancho and Alisson Becker were undergoing their medicals. Sancho had joined for £18 million with a 15% profit sell-on clause, a deal struck after Bayern Munich refused to loan out Serge Gnabry to which Nagelsmann was disappointed, apparently, Bayern Munich wanted the player to gain more experience in the Bundesliga rather than in a foreign country.

So Nagelsmann himself asked Edward to cave into Man City's demands, to which he was willing to, and bought Sancho for a fee far above his market value.

On another end Alisson Becker, the future Liverpool Keeper signed for £12 million, a surprise signing that even Edward himself didn't expect to pull off, after scouting for other goalkeepers besides their previous targeted goalkeepers.

Alisson, who had been serving as the backup goalkeeper at Roma, popped up in their reports and after Edward saw how cheap he was he immediately struck a deal, knowing he would have secured one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

Forget Donnarumma, this, was the better deal.

Reflecting on the players they hadn't signed, Edward thought about the missed opportunity with Gnabry. There was also Alex Grimaldo, who Benfica wanted to sell for a hefty fee that was more than triple his market value.

Despite his talent, both Edward and Nagelsmann didn't trust that Grimaldo would justify the excessive cost and decided to look for different options and though Gaëtan Bong would remain at the club, they still needed a better option at left back.

Then there was Sandro Tonali, who ultimately did not join.

Brighton had wanted to keep their last under-21 non-English spot open, as Edward believed there was likely other young players who would be far more talented that had slipped his mind and Tonali's work permit issues had complicated matters further.

It was a tough decision, but Edward felt it was the right one.

Edward shifted his thoughts to the departures, they had trimmed the squad to ensure that they're FFP would be balanced, some of the players that had left so far were, Uwe Hünemeier who left for SC Paderborn for £500,000.

Markus Suttner, moved to Fortuna Düsseldorf for £1.5 million.

Connor Goldson joined Rangers in the Scottish Premiership for £3 million.

Steve Sidwell, signed with Reading in the Championship for £500,000.

While Tomer Hemed transferred to Queens Park Rangers in the Championship for £2 million. Hemed had been a reliable striker, but Nagelsmann ultimately decided that he wanted better options.

Sam Baldock also joined Reading in the Championship for £1.5 million.

Edward then considered the current squad that Nagelsmann had in mind so far.

In goal, they had Alisson and David Stockdale. There would surely be need to sign other backup goalkeepers as it was likely that Stockdale would not be pleased with being relegated to the bench after being a starter last season and would request a move.

Their defenders included Lewis Dunk, Shane Duffy, Bruno Saltor, who's experience would be valuable in their relatively young back line, Reece James, Matthijs de Ligt, Manuel Akanji, and Gaëtan Bong.

In this case Nagelsmann made it clear he wanted both a left back and right back, the deal for Darmian was still in the works but they would need to continue scouting or approach the players they already had in mind for left and right back.

In midfield, they had Dale Stephens, who Nagelsmann decided to keep due to how reliable and consistent he was last season.

Beram Kayal, was also kept as he showed good work ethic and professionalism. Pascal Groß, Nicolo Barella, Declan Rice, Federico Valverde, and Rodri were the rest of their options, all being new signings.

Anthony Knockaert remained, however, they were willing to entertain offers for the player after Nagelsmann learned of reports of the player's tendency for outburst.

Solly March, Jack Grealish, and Jadon Sancho were the rest of their options for the wings.

And their only striker currently was Erling Haaland as Dusan Vlahovic would remain on loan at Partizan in order to play regular first team football.

Of course, there squad was still far to small, and while there were promising young players in their youth teams like Robert Sánchez and Ben White, they weren't quite ready for Premier League football and would better off serve going out on loan or remaining in their youth squad in order to continue developing.

There were also Bellingham and Musiala, but they both would need time to develop in order to compete in the high intensity of the Premier League.

< Training Ground >

As the players run through their shuttle drills, Nagelsmann stood on the sidelines alongside Alfred Schreuder, Oliver Bartlett and other coaches.

The sound of boots striking the turf mixing with the beeping of the heart rate monitors strapped to the players was what filled their ears.

Nagelsmann's gaze sweeps across the field, his brow furrowed in concentration as he takes in the physical exertion of each player.

"Alfred, what do you make of their physical condition?" he asks, turning to Schreuder for input.

"They're looking decent," Schreuder replies, his German accent lacing his words. "Not good enough to my liking but they're not bad."

Nagelsmann nods thoughtfully, considering the level of pressing he wants them to execute in their upcoming games. He knows that to implement his high-intensity style of play effectively, the players need to be in peak physical condition.

Clapping his hands, Nagelsmann signals for everyone to gather around. The players jog over, looking sweaty and determined. Nagelsmann scans a few of them, noting their condition.

 He's surprised to see Jude Bellingham looking fully committed. Despite the tiredness evident in his expression, the 14-year-old is keeping pace with senior players admirably.

"Good work, Jude," Nagelsmann commends, patting the young midfielder on the back. "You're doing well. Keep it up."

Addressing the entire team, Nagelsmann announces, "Alright, everyone, take a seat." He gestures to one of the coaches to bring his whiteboard over.

"Ok," he begins, "let us delve into the very essence of football. It's not merely a sport, it's a dance of strategy, skill, and will."

He paces as he speaks, coaches sitting next to players who needed translation, "Consider the greats," he says, "Cruyff's Total Football, a combination of movement and creativity. Or Guardiola's tiki-taka, keeping possession and making precise passes to break your opposition."

Nagelsmann pauses, allowing his words to resonate with his players before continuing. "Or the determination of Sacchi's AC Milan, a defensive fortress that struck fear into the hearts of attackers. Each of these styles, these philosophies, is a testament to the boundless possibilities of our beautiful game."

Nagelsmann's voice rises with enthusiasm as he continues. "Guardiola's attention to detail, Mourinho's tactical pragmatism. Each approach is a reflection of the manager's vision, their understanding of the game's nuances."

He gestures animatedly. "For me, it's about more than just winning. It's about playing with flair, with passion, with a relentless pursuit of excellence. From our defense, organized and disciplined, to our attack, dynamic and fluid, every aspect of our game must be planned and executed."

Nagelsmann takes a moment to gather his thoughts before speaking again.

"Let's talk about how we're going to approach this season," he begins. "First and foremost, we need to embrace flexibility. We can't be afraid to adapt our formations and tactics based on the strengths of our team and the weaknesses of our opponents."

He looks around at his players, gauging their reactions before continuing. "Pressing and intensity will be crucial for us. We need to be relentless in our pursuit of the ball, always looking to win it back quickly and disrupt the opposition. Whether it's triggering our press from the goalkeeper's distribution or pouncing on a vulnerable player when he takes a poor touch, we need to be sharp and decisive."

Nagelsmann's gaze grows more intense as he delves deeper into his philosophy. "What I want in our play is verticality and transition. We'll look to transition quickly from defense to attack and exploit space behind the opposition's defensive line. This means rapid forward passes, intelligent movement off the ball, and a willingness to drive forward with and without the ball, I want no lazy feet."

With a marker in hand, he draws a series of arrows representing forward passes. "These passes need to be patient, swift and sharp, catching the opposition off guard, stretching their players and opening that space for us to create goal-scoring opportunities."

Nagelsmann pauses, allowing his words to sink in before continuing. "Now, let's talk about positional play." He adjusts the diagram, adding markers to represent the players' positions on the field. "While we're attacking, it's important that everyone maintains their positional discipline. We need to stretch the opposition's defense, creating gaps and openings for our forwards to exploit."

One of the players, Lewis Dunk, raises their hand, a look of curiosity on his face. Nagelsmann nods in acknowledgment, encouraging them to speak up.

"Coach, what happens if the opposition presses us high up the pitch?" Dunk asks, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

Nagelsmann smiles, appreciating the player's question. "Ah, a good question," he replies. "In that scenario, we need to remain calm and composed. We'll look to play out from the back, using short, quick yet patient passes to bypass their press and create space in midfield, never panic, and always be calm, that is something I want from my backline."

For a moment he rubs his forehead as if he was deep in thought before speaking once again. "Alright, meine Freunde, let's delve deeper into what I expect from each position on the field."

"Goalkeepers," he begins, pointing at the goalkeeper position on the whiteboard, "I expect you to be more than just shot stoppers. You must be like conductors, orchestrating our attacks from the back. I want you to be comfortable with the ball at your feet and be proactive in sweeping behind the defensive line when necessary. You are the first line of defense, and your decisions set the tone for the entire team."

Turning his gaze to the defenders, Nagelsmann continues, "Defenders, you must be versatile and patient, capable of playing out from the back with confidence. One-on-one situations should be your playground, where you dictate the pace of the game. Your ability to read the game, anticipate opposition movements, and precise passing needs to be good."

Nagelsmann's eyes then shift to the midfielders, "Midfielders, I need you to be like warriors, defensively, I want to see you press aggressively, harassing the opposition and winning back possession. Offensively, I expect you to provide passing options, retain possession, and transition quickly between defense and attack."

With a sudden burst of energy, Nagelsmann suddenly throws down his marker and breaks into a light jog towards Solly March, who's sitting among the players. "Solly, stand up and take this ball," he instructs, tossing a ball towards March. As March catches it, Nagelsmann sprints behind him, chanting, "I want the ball, I want the ball!"

The players burst into laughter as Nagelsmann continues to chase March around, emphasizing his point about movement and intensity on the field. Finally, he stops, turning back to the rest of the team with a grin. "See, that's what I want! Energy, movement, and a hunger for the ball!"

He picked back up the marker and finally, he focuses on the forwards, "Forwards, you are the spearheads of our attack. I need you to be mobile, constantly on the move, disrupting the opposition's defense with intelligent runs. Press from the front, harry the defenders, and create space for yourselves and your teammates, drop into space, cut inside, go wide. Your ability to contribute both in scoring and creating goals will be the difference between victory and defeat."

Nagelsmann's eyes sweep over the group of forwards, making sure his message sinks in. He waits for a moment before continuing, "Do you all understand what I expect from each position?"

The players nod in unison, their expressions reflecting a mix of determination and understanding.

"Good," Nagelsmann says with a satisfied nod. "Now, let's talk about our formation." He gestures to the whiteboard, where the tactical diagram awaits. "We'll start with a base formation of 4-2-3-1, but remember, we'll be flexible depending on the situation."

Nagelsmann proceeds to outline the roles and responsibilities of each player within the formation.

"Now, let's move on to some tactical plays," His tone brimming with enthusiasm. "I want to show you how we can draw defenders away from space using passing, and how to keep an extra option with bounce passes."

With that, Nagelsmann dives into a detailed explanation of various tactical maneuvers, using the whiteboard to illustrate his points. He demonstrates how to create overloads in certain areas of the pitch, how to exploit gaps in the opposition's defense, and how to work as a cohesive unit to break down defenses.

Throughout the session, Nagelsmann encourages questions and feedback from the players and by the time the tactical review finished, the players were buzzing almost as if they had received revelations and were all eager to put Nagelsmann's tactics into practice on the field.

After a doing a few more fitness drills and recovery work, the players found themselves engaged in a friendly 6-a-side match on the training ground. The rules were simple: every player had to get a touch before they could attempt to score.

Jack Grealish, found himself in possession of the ball. With a quick glance around, he spotted Nicolo Barella making a run into space.

"Oi, mate, cut inside!" Grealish called out to Barella, signalling for him to move towards the center of the pitch.

Barella, despite not understanding English well, understood Grealish's intentions and adjusted his run accordingly, darting towards the middle to receive the pass. Grealish delivered a perfectly weighted pass into Barella's path.

As Barella received the ball, he deftly maneuverer past Valverde who was coming in fast with a quick change of direction, leaving Valverde to chase his wind. With the Valverde now out of the equation, Barella had space to exploit.

Meanwhile, Grealish didn't stand still after making the pass. Instead, he continued his run, anticipating the next move and providing an additional passing option for Barella.

Barella, with the ball at his feet, scanned the field for his next passing option. Seeing Grealish's run, he played a through ball into the space behind the defenders, timed to meet Grealish's run.

With the ball at his feet, Jack Grealish glided down the line, his eyes scanned the field, searching for gaps and openings to exploit.

Approaching the Reece James, with deceptive speed, Grealish feinted to his right, causing James to shift his weight slightly in anticipation. In that split second of hesitation, Grealish burst past him with a sudden burst of acceleration.

But Duffy wasn't far behind. As Grealish surged forward, Duffy attempted to close him down, extending his leg in an attempt to dispossess him. However, Grealish, deftly sidestepped Duffy's lunge, evading his outstretched leg by inches.

With the defender beaten, Grealish found himself with acres of space in front of him. His eyes flickered towards the edge of the box, where he spotted Sancho making a run towards the near post. Recognizing the opportunity, Grealish played a weighted ball that rose slightly off the ground into Sancho's path.

As Sancho surged towards the ball, Bong, attempted to intercept the pass. But Sancho was too quick, reaching the ball just before Bong could get a foot to it. With a deft touch, Sancho guided the ball past the onrushing Stockdale.

Nagelsmann applauds on the sideline, the smile on his face evident as he watches the fluidity of the play unfold.

'Where did you find these beautiful footballers Edward.'

As the players regroup for another round of 6-a-side, Nagelsmann starts forming another team, considering the balance and dynamics of each side.

"Alright, let's see," Nagelsmann mutters to himself, scanning the players as they mill about the pitch.

"Coach can I play?" He looks to his side to see Bellingham looking at him with determined eyes.

"Are you sure?" Nagelsmann asks, a hint of concern in his voice. "They're bigger and more experienced than you."

But Bellingham nods confidently, his determination shining through. "I'm sure, coach. I can handle it."

With a nod of approval, Nagelsmann finalizes the team. On one side, there's Matthijs, Bellingham, Akanji, Alisson guarding the goal, Beram, Knockaert and Haaland up front. And the other side are the previous winners.

As the match starts, Alisson knocks the ball out to De Ligt, who positions himself to receive it. The opposition team, sensing an opportunity to apply pressure, immediately begins to press high up the pitch, closing down the passing lanes.

De Ligt, under pressure by Sancho, receives the ball with calm assurance. He takes a quick look up, assessing his options as the opposing players close in on him. With a subtle feint, he pretends to play a pass towards the midfield, momentarily freezing the pressing players.

But instead of releasing the ball into the congested midfield, he changes direction, sending a driven pass to Manuel Akanji on the opposite side of the field. The sudden change in direction catches the pressing players off guard, creating a brief window of opportunity for Akanji to receive the ball.

"Beautiful Matthijs, such talent." A coach shouts from the sidelines.

As the ball travels across the pitch, the players on both teams are in constant motion, adjusting their positions to create passing angles and provide support for their teammates. There's a flurry of activity as players shout instructions, calling for the ball or marking their opponents.

Lewis Dunk, leading the press for the opposition team, urges his teammates to maintain their intensity. "Keep tight, lads! Don't let them out!"

Meanwhile, Jude Bellingham, sensing an opportunity to exploit the space created by the passing sequence, drops into a pocket of open space between the lines of the opposing midfield and defense. "Here!" he demands the ball from Akanji, who spots his movement and quickly plays a sharp pass into his path.

As the ball reaches Jude Bellingham, he quickly glances over his shoulder, seeing Barella closing in on him, ready to apply pressure.

Anticipating Barella's challenge, Bellingham turns with the outside of his foot, leaving Barella lunging in as the ball glides past him. There's an audible gasp from the sideline as Bellingham's smooth move leaves Barella behind, his teammates and coaches impressed by the young midfielder's composure under pressure.

With Barella bypassed, Bellingham shifts his focus to the next phase of the play. He sees Beram Kayal offering support in the midfield, and with a quick touch, he lays the ball off to Kayal, who receives it smoothly.

Knockaert then drops into the midfield, and he had Kayal begin to knock the ball around while Bellingham, positions himself and receives the ball once again, ready to initiate the next phase of the attack.

Erling Haaland seeing what Bellingham intended makes a diagonal run, darting into space behind Lewis Dunk. With a burst of acceleration, Haaland creates separation from his marker, signalling for the ball to be played into his path.

"Jude!" He shouts. 

Bellingham, recognizing the opportunity, pings the ball over the defense, aiming to find Haaland in stride. Haaland latches onto the pass taking it down though, his first touch letting him down as the ball went to his side, though, he controlled it well with his second touch as drove forward, planting his weak foot as he drew his leg back and unleashed a low shot towards goal, his eyes locked on the target.

But as the ball leaves his foot, there's a collective intake of breath, followed by a collective groan as Haaland's shot narrowly misses the target, grazing the outside of the post. Despite the near miss, the players and coaches applaud the fluidity and creativity of the attacking sequence.

Nagelsmann, observing from the sidelines, nods in acknowledgment of the team's efforts, his mind already processing what needed to be worked on.

"This squad is extremely talented." He mutters to himself as he watches Dunk pick the ball up in defense and look to play it out. "Extremely talented." He repeats once again.