Chapter 58

The goalkeeper is Gordia, the left-back is Rosato, the center-backs are Rosario and Wellington, the right-back is Gámez, the midfielders are Gündoğan and Gavi, and the attacking line consists of Koke, Reus, and Eliseu. At the forefront of the attack is the lone striker, Lewandowski. This is the main lineup on Lin Sen's tactical board, and it is also the starting lineup that Tapia does not see favorably.

Lin Sen knows where Tapia's doubts lie. In short, compared to last season, this lineup is completely different in the back, while the midfield and attack have undergone a complete transformation. Apart from Eliseu, there is not a single familiar face in Málaga's midfield and attack.

"Do you like apples, Antonio?" After a moment of silence, Lin Sen suddenly asked.

"Apples?" Tapia was taken aback, clearly not understanding why Lin Sen would suddenly ask such a random question.

"Yes, apples." Lin Sen repeated.

"Alright." Still not understanding Lin Sen's intention, Tapia had to be honest.

"If I give you an apple now, can you tell me whether it is sour or sweet without eating it?" Lin Sen leaned casually against the side of the desk, looking at Tapia with a smile.

Tapia finally realized what Lin Sen was trying to say, or rather, what he was trying to tell him. So, he could only answer with a bitter smile.

"…No."

"Therefore," Lin Sen stood up and slowly walked to the tactical board, speaking calmly, "I can't answer some of your questions. Because whether the apple is sour or sweet, you can't get the answer just by looking at it; you have to taste it yourself."

Tapia fell silent. After a moment, he nodded slightly.

Lin Sen's answer satisfied him; he couldn't be unsatisfied. Lin Sen did not make grand promises about the correctness of his choices, nor did he assert his decisions in a dictatorial manner. He simply clearly told him a fact: only he himself could answer whether the apples Málaga had introduced were sweet.

And this answer could only be found on the pitch.

"Regarding the team's defensive system, there is one point you overlooked. While the front three last season played a significant role in the team's promotion, they were also a weakness in the team's defensive system. Their freedom allowed opponents to organize attacks from the midfield and backline. Even without considering the tactical pros and cons, let's take a step back: they have all left the team, so there is no question of accepting or not accepting them."

As he spoke, Lin Sen suddenly stood up and walked to the tactical board, then picked up a marker and drew a circle, enclosing the "3-1" in the 4-2-3-1 formation.

"Antonio, since you have already seen my plan, I still believe you underestimate my expectations for this defense. In the new season, the team's defensive system will have the four players in the front as the first line of defense. To me, they are the frontline of the team's defensive system. Without the frontline, there is no bottom line!"

After saying this, Lin Sen paused, seemingly waiting for Tapia's reaction.

Tapia crossed his arms, his right thumb and index finger supporting his fuzzy chin, his eyes fixed on the circle Lin Sen had drawn on the tactical board, remaining silent for a long time.

Lin Sen was not in a hurry; he waited quietly until Tapia nodded slightly again.

"Then, regarding the tactical points you mentioned, your summary is correct: simplicity, high pressure, and speed. However, I can summarize it even more succinctly: advantage."

"Advantage?"

"Yes, positional advantage." As he spoke, Lin Sen picked up the marker and drew seven lines on the tactical board, two vertical and five horizontal, turning the pitch diagram into two connected 3x3 grids.

Seeing the tactical board transform instantly, Tapia's eyes lit up.

Lin Sen then labeled each grid with numbers, starting from the backline and moving horizontally from 1 to 9 in each half of the pitch, before stopping and saying, "The process of a football match is actually the process of competing for positional advantage. Each grid represents a specific area. What we need to do is figure out how to make the team have an advantage in the necessary areas."

"The 7th grid is closest to the midfield and is a must-contend area. The 4th, 5th, and 6th grids are near the goal and are must-defend areas. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grids are the back areas, which naturally need no further explanation. Competing for these positional advantages can be done in many ways, such as individual skill and team coordination. However, what we will use is the simplest method: ensuring numerical superiority in the ball area. The points you mentioned are actually all aimed at this goal. For example, let's take the defensive system we just discussed."

As he spoke, Lin Sen moved the magnet representing the striker to the 6th grid in the opponent's half.

"Suppose we lose possession in this position, the striker must immediately press the opponent's ball carrier, with the main goal being to apply pressure. At the same time…" Lin Sen moved the other three magnets representing the attacking midfielders to the 8th grid in the opponent's half, continuing, "The three attacking players must quickly form numerical superiority in this area. At the same time, they must feint to the 5th and 9th grids, which are adjacent to the 6th grid, to disrupt the opponent's passing intentions, forcing them to pass back. If they don't pass back, at least we can compress their attack to the wings, reducing the defensive area. At this point…"

Lin Sen's hand moved to the two magnets representing the midfielders, "Our second line of defense is already in place, and at this moment, the first and second lines of defense can easily form numerical superiority… This is why I said the first line of defense is crucial, as they are the key to our numerical superiority."

"Of course, this is all theoretical at the moment. We can't predict the situation on the pitch, as you are concerned, the team may not yet have the tactical execution. But I think, isn't this what we need to do?"

After saying this, Lin Sen looked at Tapia for the third time.

"Alright. You're right." This time, Tapia did not keep Lin Sen waiting long. Lin Sen had explained very clearly on the tactical board, and he quickly spread his hands and said.

"Then…" Lin Sen's gaze turned to a request.

"I have no objections to your plan for now." Understanding Lin Sen's meaning, Tapia nodded in agreement.

"Let's have a pleasant cooperation!" Lin Sen finally extended his hand with a smile.

"I believe we will." Tapia also smiled and extended his hand. He came with questions, and now, Lin Sen had given him all the answers.

The hands of the young and the old finally met for the first time, resolving their first disagreement, marking the beginning of their formal cooperation.

Unlike the almost dismissive handling of their first meeting, during their second meeting, Lin Sen treated Tapia with an exceptionally serious attitude, though not overly cautious. This was not because his attitude towards Tapia had changed overnight. As the team's head coach, Lin Sen was very clear: if he wanted to win over Málaga, Tapia was the first person he needed to gain trust from. Not only because Tapia was the assistant coach, but also because he had once been a candidate for Lin Sen's position.

If his tactical philosophy could not even be accepted by his assistant coach, how could he expect the team to accept his transformation? Conversely, if even Tapia nodded in agreement, many things would fall into place. An assistant coach who fully understands and supports his goals would allow Lin Sen to free himself from the training ground and focus more on the opponents in the long season.

So, when Tapia finally nodded, Lin Sen actually felt a great relief. Winning someone's trust is simple: make them genuinely convinced. At the very least, Lin Sen had achieved the first two steps.

Next…

"Shall we go for a meal?" After discussing the tactical issues, Lin Sen's expression seemed to lighten up. He glanced at the time and extended an invitation to Tapia.

"Oh…" Tapia also felt a bit hungry at this moment. He twisted his neck, which had become stiff from focusing on the tactical board, and smiled, "You're buying?"

"Of course." Lin Sen said generously, "Anything you want."

Lin Sen indeed had a reason to be generous. In a recent European Championship group match, Spain defeated Russia 4-1, and the striker he bet on, Villa, scored the first and seemingly only hat-trick of the tournament, currently leading the scoring chart with three goals. If history did not deviate too much, Lin Sen would definitely profit from his bet on the top scorer.

The two of them went to a restaurant together, with Lin Sen footing the bill, and naturally, the menu was left to Tapia. Tapia did not hesitate and slowly ordered a full table of dishes.

"Lin, I noticed there is a hanging decoration on the wall behind your desk. Is it yours?" As they ate and chatted, the topic inevitably turned to football, and Tapia suddenly asked.

"Yes." Lin Sen nodded. In fact, when Tapia first visited his office, he had noticed that Tapia's gaze lingered on the decoration for a moment. He had expected Tapia to ask, but at the time, Tapia did not say much. Today, their focus in the office was on the plan, so it was not surprising that Tapia would ask now.

"That is a fax from Valencia." Lin Sen cut a piece of roasted lamb leg and put it in his mouth, speaking casually.

"I noticed the date is just last month…" Clearly, Tapia thought Lin Sen had really applied for the position of team doctor, but the date on the fax did not match. As soon as he asked, Tapia realized he should not pursue this question further and was about to change the topic, but Lin Sen smiled and answered, or rather, confirmed his suspicions.

"It seems you noticed it carefully. You are right, I did not apply for the position of team doctor, but for the head coach."

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