122 The Consequence Of Provocation Part 1 (1/2)
Chapter 122: The Consequence Of Provocation Part 1
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Tang En stopped talking and the locker room was quiet again. But there was an undercurrent brewing beneath the calm. After a while, the sound of heavy breathing in the room grew louder, and Tang En knew the time was right.
”Well, lads, we can't win the match with hot-bloodedness alone. We still need to use our brains.” He knocked on the tactical board, ”I think we all have seen what kind of football Millwall plays. Who else is going to reveal his footwork in front of them? No one? Very good.”
”In the first half they used all their efforts to press hard across the entire field. The results were very good, and we were unable to react well. But I must say that the other manager is an idiot. There are already some problems with their physical fitness. The second half is destined to be our world. Learn to make use of the width of the field. We move around more and more direct passes. Play a more straightforward game. They want to keep and fight us in the midfield, don't give them the chance, just swiftly break through the midfield. They like to kick long balls. We'll do the long-ball play with them! Taylor!” Tang En looked at Gareth Taylor, who had just returned from the reserve team.
”You're on for the second half. You're going to substitute for Johnson. Pay attention, everybody!” He raised his voice. ”When you have the chance, kick long balls! Their center back can't compete with you on headers! The one who's most capable on headers, Darren Ward, is not even on the main list for this match. The 21-year-old Mark Phillips is still too inexperienced. He's not a threat to you.” Tang En looked at Taylor as he said these words, everyone could see that the key to the team winning in the second half laid with this guy.
”As for the other player... that b*stard, Muscat, is only 1.78-meter tall, shorter than you by 10 centimeters. And that guy's header skills... are far worse than his ability to slide tackle and break someone's legs off! But the task that I'm giving to you is not to defeat him with a header. I want you to... bring him down! You know what I mean?”
Taylor thought for a moment and then nodded. ”He has a yellow card on him.”
Tang En grinned and chuckled, ”You're smart, big guy. Find a way to bring him down, but don't hurt yourself. Remember, you must be realistic! If you get a yellow card for a fake dive, I won't feel sorry for you.” He wagged his finger.
Taylor nodded again. ”I know what to do.”
It was Tang En's method of bribing the team's heart by entrusting Taylor with a heavy responsibility in front of the entire team. The so-called carrot-and-stick approach.
After the task had been assigned to Taylor, everyone knew what the team's tactics were going to be in the second half: to use the 1.88-meter-tall Taylor, who was excellent at headers, as the bridgehead for the offense and breakthrough to the opposing side. Whether he was going to shoot a goal or make an assist, all had to pass with his head first.
”Rebrov, your mission in this match is not to organize the offense, but to score a goal. Taylor will soon be marked by the opponents, he will attract all of Millwall's defensive attention. You have to follow him by his side. When he seizes the control of the ball, you have to grab the second pass before the Millwall players and then, I don't care what method you use, you must strike the ball into their goal!”
Rebrov nodded vigorously.
”Next... Eugen Bopp, you should reflect on that stupid yellow card in the first half. If I had a defensive midfielder substitute, I would have brought you off immediately,” Said Tang En while he stared at the young German player. Bopp lowered his head and dared not look at him. ”But lucky for you, except for you and Gunnarsson, we do not have another defensive midfielder. So, you still have to stay on the field. Mind your actions, don't take the initiative to apply for a red card!”
”I... I got it, boss.” Bopp replied with a low voice.
”Gunnarsson, Bopp has a card. You will need to help him more in the second half. You two will work together to closely mark Cahill! Don't give him a chance for a long pass like the first half!” Tang En waved his fist. Cahill was able to easily shoot in the first half because Bopp and Gunnarsson did not close in around him in time.
”Yes, sir.” The Icelandic man replied with an expressionless face.
”As for their captain...” Tang En closed his eyes and paused a little. He would have to say goodbye to the past from now on. Dennis... Let me send you off one last time!
”There's no need to be afraid of a 37-year-old man!”
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While Tang En was assigning tasks to the players and laying out their strategies, Des Walker went out alone to see the situation in the stadium. The disturbance in the stands had subsided and returned to calm. But at a glance, there were still a lot of empty seats. Those people must have been taken away by the police, or sent directly to the hospital...
There were three rows of fully armed riot police stationed on both sides of the visitors stands. Occasionally, fans from both sides still engaged in a war of words across the three-layer human wall, but the situation had largely been restored to calm. It seemed like the second half could proceed normally.
It just so happened that the referees came out of the referee's lounge and Walker looked at them questioningly. The fourth official nodded to him. ”The second half of the game can continue, Mr. Manager.”