Football: My AI System Provides Max-Level Predictions-Chapter 40: "I knew it! It had to be you!

Chapter 40: Chapter 40: "I knew it! It had to be you! free𝑤ebnovel.com

Davis is definitely not a mindless provocateur.

Don’t be fooled by this Canadian midfielder’s age; he’s only 25, but he’s been playing in Serie A for 5 years.

To be specific, during these five years, he spent two years in Serie B and three years in Serie A.

It’s hard to say how high his skill level is; he’s not even a regular in this mid-to-lower Bologna team.

However, after being immersed in Italian football for years, he’s learned quite a few dirty tricks, filled with schemes.

Davis also came up from being a young player; he still remembers how those old hands used psychological tactics to break his defenses!

"Davis, that starter with Inter, number 99, Tang, is only 18 years old. Go out there, mess up his mentality!"

"No problem, boss, I know how to deal with this kind of rookie."

Davis received instructions from the coach before the match; he was on a mission.

Often, young talents like Tang Long, starting for the first time, come to the field full of energy, eager to prove themselves to the world.

The more anxious one is, the easier it is to lose control.

On August 17, 2005, 18-year-old Messi made his debut for the Argentine national football team and was expelled with a red card 48 seconds into a friendly match against Hungary.

Davis hopes the same mistake will happen to Tang Long.

That’s why, after scoring a fluke goal, he deliberately came over to provoke Tang Long, "Hey, are you scared silly?"

Whether Tang Long was scared silly, I don’t know.

Inter coach Mancini was certainly a bit bewildered!

He wasn’t confused by conceding a goal right off the bat—Manci has experienced scenes like this countless times in his coaching career and is quite accustomed to them.

What surprised him was the players’ remarkably poor condition on the field!

They clearly haven’t snapped out of their winter break yet.

Assistant coach Herrera said dejectedly: "If Gualin could confront Bornerelli in midfield, we wouldn’t have let him turn so easily, and there wouldn’t have been the subsequent goal concession."

Mancini shook his head with furrowed brows, "The key isn’t there; on the defensive line, Ranocchia and Andreolli are clearly not focused, both marking one guy, leaving Destro completely unguarded at the far post. Others may slack off, but not the defensive line!"

Mancini decisively made a swift adjustment—

Expand Ranocchia’s range of movement!

With his height of 195cm, the tallest on the field, he’s no longer stationed on the defensive line but is instead closely pressing Bologna’s tall center forward Bornerelli.

Bornerelli likes to fall back, using height to bully our midfield?

Fine, I’ll let Ranocchia move up, wherever you go, Ranocchia will follow, giving you a full-field workout!

Mancini is truly a master coach, and this adjustment had immediate effects.

In the following ten minutes or so, Ranocchia contested 7 aerial balls against Bornerelli in midfield, winning 6 of them.

That move by the opposing center forward to fall back was thus nullified by Mancini.

Bornerelli stopped falling back and honestly stayed upfront.

The game returned to a regular tug-of-war.

Bologna, in the lead, focused on defense while Inter controlled possession and attacked.

In Serie A, regardless of the team’s level, once they decide to fall back and form a chain defense, breaching the goal becomes a challenging task for any team.

However, such a difficult battle is precisely the opportunity for Tang Long to shine!

In the 36th minute of the first half, Brozovic, Kovacic, and Medel, the three midfielders at the back, conducted multiple triangle positioning passes.

With such patience, two Bologna players were finally lured out to press.

Brozovic was waiting for that moment!

Bang! The ball was passed to Tang Long, who had run into open space!

This precise pass pushed Inter’s attacking line forward by 20 meters in an instant.

Tang Long swiftly turned and advanced with the ball.

Bologna’s midfielder Davis charged over, watching him intently, "Do you dare to come past me, how about a duel?"

Tang Long wouldn’t fall for that trick, not because he didn’t dare to face off against Davis, but because Podolski was already behind the defenders, close to the offside line!

A direct ground-ball pass perfectly aligned with the end of the German forward’s running path!

"Here comes the opportunity!"

Icardi first took a backward step, bypassed the defender, then immediately charged forward!

The near post is open, just give it a shot!

Near the byline, Podolski swept across, the ball nutmegged through!

No one touched it, the ball deflected off a Bologna defender’s leg and was cleared from the penalty area.

Mancini shook his head in disappointment on the sidelines.

It seems the synergy between the new recruits and the veteran players still needs work!

Icardi’s signature move is to slip through the defense to the near post.

Podolski’s cross was well-struck but aimed at the penalty spot.

He didn’t sync with Icardi’s thinking.

If he could target the near post, Icardi was already in open space, and he would score 8 out of 10 times.

"If Tang were in Podolski’s position, maybe that pass might have been better..."

Just as Mancini was lamenting the missed opportunity.

While Podolski was still apologizing to Icardi for the poor pass.

As Bologna’s defenders were relieved over Inter’s botched play.

In Tang Long’s mind, the AI system had already provided a sharp analysis:

"Detected Bologna’s defense line hasn’t advanced timely, Icardi is within the onside boundary, passing within 1.5 seconds has an 88.56% chance to form a shot!"

This 1.5 seconds was an analysis made by the Green Grass Wisdom Engine System after modeling the movement of Bologna’s defensive line.

Exceeding these 1.5 seconds, due to the defensive line’s advancement, Icardi would certainly be offside!

Speed is of the essence!

No time to think, Tang Long didn’t even have time to look at Icardi’s exact position—

He charged toward the first drop point and shot as soon as the ball was about to land!

The ball flew back into Bologna’s penalty area!

The sudden change of rhythm caught Bologna’s defenders off guard.

Icardi was also momentarily stunned, everyone thought that Tang Long would stop the ball, totally not considering he would do a one-touch pass!

But Icardi is Icardi.

As a top Serie A forward, he has quicker reaction speeds than others.

Lowering his body’s center of gravity, twisting and stepping across, he started spinning to receive the ball!

Eyes tightly trailing the ball’s path, when he finally managed to bring the ball under control at his feet, Bologna’s defender was at least three meters away from Icardi, forming a clear solo chance!

A quick flicking shot, like a water strider!

The diving Bologna goalkeeper could only watch as the ball sailed past his reach, left to helplessly sigh!

"I knew it! You’re the man!"

Icardi clenched his fist and roared, turning around to rush toward Tang Long!