Red Star FC

After confirming the new settings with the system, Kay continued his dinner with his parents. 

After finishing dinner, Kay and his family headed home, feeling the weight of the past week finally lift from his shoulders. 

The following day was a well-deserved break for the players, but Kay, always eager to improve, spent his day engrossed in books about coaching. 

He sifted through pages on strategy, seeking new creative drills that could give his team an edge in their upcoming matches. 

The next morning, as was his routine, Kay arrived at the training field early. The quiet of the empty field gave him time to reflect on the team's recent match and the areas that needed improvement. 

Soon after, Coach Daniels joined him, bringing news about their next opponent. "Our next opponent is Red Star FC, currently seventh in the standings." 

Kay nodded, mentally preparing for the challenge. Red Star was known for their resilience and tactical discipline, and he knew his team would need to be at their best. 

Once all the players had gathered, Kay told them about their next opponent. 

"Our next opponent is Red Star FC, I think all of you know that the match against them will be harder than the last match" 

Kay then called them together for the day's session. He began by addressing an issue that had been evident in their last match; their struggle with covering each other effectively. 

"Today, we're going to focus on covering for each other. It's something we struggled with in our last match, and we must fix it." 

He outlined the training plan, dividing the team into three groups for a series of drills. 

The first group consisted of defenders and fullbacks, who worked on positioning and communication, ensuring that when one player advanced or was out of position, another would seamlessly cover the gap. 

Kay emphasized the importance of staying alert and understanding the movements of their teammates. 

The second group was the midfielders. Kay drilled them on their dual role in both defense and attack, highlighting how vital it was for them to support the defense while also transitioning quickly to offense. 

They practiced scenarios where they had to track back quickly to cover for an advancing defender or step in to close down an opposing player who had found space. 

Lastly, the wingers and strikers took their turn. Kay focused on their need to press high and track back when needed. 

He reminded them that a strong defense starts from the front, with every player understanding their role in regaining possession and helping the team maintain its shape. 

As the training session progressed, Kay moved between the groups, offering guidance and feedback. 

He pushed them to communicate more effectively, to anticipate each other's movements, and to develop an instinct for covering one another. 

After the session ended, Kay as usual began researching details about the next opponent. 

He discovered that their upcoming adversary was now managed by someone from his own school; a manager fresh from the attack-style class. 

The opposing team had recently suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat, dropping from fifth place to seventh. 

Kay was confident that this manager from an attack style, would push for an aggressive, attacking strategy for sure. 

This made Kay decide that his team would adopt a defensive approach for this match, focusing on counterattacks. 

The strong character and dominating presence on the field wouldn't matter as long as they secured the win. 

The next day, Kay gathered his players and shared the intel he had gathered. 

He informed them that they would be playing in a different style in the next match, a strategy that would demand quick adaptation and discipline. 

He added that counterattacks would be their key to victory and explained how they would prepare for it. 

Kay devised several drills to sharpen their counterattacking skills. One drill involved quick transitions from defense to attack: defenders would clear the ball into space, and wingers like Antony and Riley would sprint forward to receive the pass. 

They had to time their runs perfectly to break the defensive line without getting caught offside. 

Another drill focused on precise long passes from the backline. Defenders were trained to deliver pinpoint balls into the space behind the opponent's defense, where Antony and Riley would capitalize on their speed. 

Kay also had a special task for Ben, the goalkeeper. He instructed Ben to practice long, accurate kicks to initiate counterattacks, turning defense into attack in an instant. 

Kay knew that having a reliable outlet from the goalkeeper could catch their opponents off guard and provide crucial opportunities. 

The match against Red Star FC was programmed for the weekend, it was just days away, and the tension was building. 

All week, he had pushed the players hard, drilling them on defense and counter-attack. 

He could see the progress they were making, but he also knew that preparing for a match wasn't just about perfecting one strategy. 

Remembering what Bielsa said in the lecture before, Kay told his team to train on another tactic. 

"We need to have more than one plan. Football is unpredictable. You never know what the other team will do." 

Throughout the week, Kay made sure they focused on the basics first. Mornings were dedicated to solidifying their defense. 

The team practiced how to hold their shape under pressure, how to close down space quickly, and how to break up the opponent's attacks before they could get too dangerous. 

In the afternoons, however, Kay switched things up. He knew that Red Star might not stick to their usual aggressive style; they could switch to a more defensive approach, especially if they got an early lead. 

That's why he told them to train more on the Crossfield Strike. 

"Using the Crossfield Strike tactic could help catch the opponent off guard. If Red Star decides to sit back and defend, we'll use it to break them down." 

The days flew by. Each morning, the team focused on defending and counter-attacking, sharpening their ability to absorb pressure and then hit back with speed. 

In the afternoons, they worked on the Crossfield Strike, refining their ability to switch play and exploit the gaps in a defensive formation. 

On Friday morning, the atmosphere in the locker room was tense as the players gathered around Kay. 

They knew today was important, it was the day he would announce the starting lineup for the weekend match against Red Star FC. 

Each player had been working hard all week, hoping to earn a spot in the eleven that would take to the field. 

Kay stood before them, holding a clipboard with the lineup. He had thought long and hard about this decision, weighing each player's strengths and how they fit into his strategy for the match. Finally, he cleared his throat and began. 

"Alright, listen up, here's the starting lineup for tomorrow's match. In goal, we've got Ben. The back four will be Harper, Gary, Stuart, and Turner. In midfield, it's Desmond, Sam, and Anouar. On the wings, we'll have Riley on the right and Antony on the left. And up front, leading the attack will be Dragan." 

There was a moment of silence as the players absorbed the news. Some of them exchanged glances, realizing that this was the same lineup Kay had used in their last match. 

Antony, who had been nervously biting his lip, suddenly broke into a wide smile. 

He hadn't expected to make it to the list this time, especially after an average performance in training earlier in the week. Hearing his name called felt like a weight lifted off his shoulders. 

But not everyone was happy. A few players who had lost their spots in the starting eleven when Kay took over were clearly disappointed. 

They had hoped that with the change in tactics, they might get another chance to prove themselves. Instead, they found themselves on the bench again. 

James, one of the wingers who had been sidelined, frowned slightly as he looked down at his boots. 

He remembered how Kay had explained after the last match that the changes were necessary for the game plan. 

But now, even though the style of play had changed significantly, the lineup remained the same. It didn't seem fair. 

See you in the next chapter...