Chapter 33

During the training session in preparation for the next round of the league, Audrich invited Wenger to visit Millwall's training base.

The training ground was nothing special, but Wenger was highly impressed by the hotel used for indoor training. The modern sports medical team, scientific diet, meticulous intelligence gathering, and tactical meeting rooms were all things that Audrich and Wenger had discussed in depth when they first met years ago. Audrich had realized all of this with his own hands.

During the training session, which was usually off-limits to visitors, Wenger stood quietly by the side of the pitch, watching. Audrich continued his work as usual, which left his coaching staff puzzled.

However, no one asked too many questions, at least not with Wenger's appearance giving no room for misinterpretation.

Before the start of today's group training match, Audrich called the players together and said, "Over the past two months, we've performed well. We've only conceded two goals in eight league matches, but our goals have been a bit scarce recently. So, today's training focus will be on the wingers trying to break through and adding some new elements to our offensive tactics."

Audrich's words brightened the eyes of Pires and Schneider.

Previously, the team's training requirements were not extensive. Offensive players were encouraged to make one-touch passes in the attacking third, to handle the ball quickly and efficiently, and to form combinations through movement. They used precise ground passes and a fast pace to break through the opponent's defense. However, for a game with complex offensive and defensive tactics, this was still somewhat simplistic.

Personal breakthroughs are essential in football. While the classic "passing the ball into the goal" combination is often celebrated, not every goal is like that. In the process of creating goals, personal breakthroughs play a significant role.

Audrich had previously suppressed the wingers' breakthroughs to establish a defensive foundation. Because a winger's breakthrough not only brings them closer to the baseline and the penalty area but also pulls the entire offensive system forward. Once the bow is drawn, there's no turning back. The more the team presses forward, the greater the defensive pressure if they can't retreat in time.

To make the team's attack and defense flexible, Audrich couldn't let the players play freely from the start. He had to find a feel in the process of contracting, familiarize them with the defensive mode and state, and then gradually release the offense. This was his overall strategy for transforming the team.

First-team coaches Trollope and Craig explained the basic tactics to the players using tactical diagrams.

For example, the routes for crossing from the wings, 45-degree crosses to the far post, and low crosses to the near post, and how the two forwards should position themselves to cover and draw defenders.

Tactics are always rigid; they need to be tailored to fit the team. Millwall's forwards are fast and have a keen sense in the penalty area, so the wing attacks naturally serve them.

Perhaps because of the enriched offensive tactics today, the players were highly enthusiastic. After a brief explanation by the coaches, they eagerly divided into two teams and began the match.

Audrich walked to the other side of the training ground and stood next to Wenger, who was intently watching the players.

Halfway through the match, Audrich quietly asked, "How is it?"

Wenger took a deep breath, turned to Audrich, and nodded. "They are young, but they have great potential. Audrich, your vision is truly impressive."

Although there weren't many skillful players on the field, to compensate for this shortcoming, Audrich's team played a simple style. The ball moved quickly between the players, without flashy moves, just precise short passes, and constant movement to form combinations.

Although it was just a short match, Wenger could already see the limitless potential of the players on the training ground.

In the following days, the players' training enthusiasm was very high. After all, being more active in the attack had unleashed their long-suppressed offensive instincts.

In the ninth round of the League One, Millwall, at their home ground, The Den, faced a weaker opponent: Luton.

It was precisely because of the weaker opponent that Audrich decided to try a slight release of the offensive tactics.

As usual, Audrich didn't give a long tactical speech in the dressing room before the match. He just boosted the team's morale and left the room.

He deeply understood that the closer to the start of the match, the less effective it was to remind the players of tactics. It would only make them nervous. The players should be prepared the day before the match, and there was no need to give them last-minute instructions, which would only annoy them.

The Den was packed, and Audrich's team had already won the fans' approval. Today, not only was Wenger watching the match, but a group of young men had also pulled up a banner in the stands that read, "If you love Millwall, shout it out! We are the Lion Roar!"

The young men pulling the banner were Brady, Fred, and Evan.

They, dressed in Millwall's traditional dark blue jerseys, stood on the south stand. Their seats were arranged by Audrich, who had given them 50 tickets. In just a week, Brady had gathered nearly a hundred members for the fan organization "Lion Roar," creating a unique spectacle on the stands.

Audrich was used to fans asking for his autograph as he walked through the tunnel, and occasionally someone would pat him on the shoulder to cheer him on or praise him.

Unlike usual, after the match started, Audrich didn't stand on the sidelines to direct the game but sat on the bench, watching the match calmly.

From the start of the match, the stands were filled with cheers.

Millwall's home record was impressive, and the fans were happy to come to the stadium to cheer for the team. For ordinary people who had worked hard all week, there was nothing more enjoyable than shouting and singing in the stadium.

However, after the match started, the situation on the field was tense.

Luton's overall strength was not strong, and they didn't huddle defensively at The Den. The main problem was with Millwall's attack.

Audrich, who organized the central attack, didn't push deep into the opponent's penalty area in previous matches but mainly facilitated the transition in the center. Therefore, the two wingers, Schneider and Pires, were the starting points of the attack and the most threatening part of Millwall's offense.

As a result, Luton's two full-backs had been closely marking these two players from the start of the match.

It was almost like a chess game.

And Schneider and Pires, who were allowed to dribble and break through, seemed too happy. They started showing off their skills, with their first move after receiving the ball being to dribble, dribble, dribble...

After being dispossessed two or three times in a row, the situation became even worse!

By the 30th minute of the first half, even the fans in the stands could see that as soon as Schneider and Pires got the ball, their next move was to dribble!

These two players didn't have the speed or explosive power to take on the rough English defenders, especially when the opponents could predict their moves.

This was too disrespectful to the opponents!

It was as if they were treating the opponents as posts!

"Do you want to remind them?"

Jason asked Audrich in a low voice.

He was puzzled. The reason for Millwall's offensive struggles was obvious to the fans: the two wingers only wanted to dribble when they got the ball.

But Audrich remained calm, showing no signs of getting up to direct the game from the sidelines.

Audrich shook his head. "Shouting now won't help. They need a cooling-off period. We'll talk during halftime."

Wenger, in the stands, felt that he had exaggerated a bit when he spoke to Audrich a few days ago.

At least the two wingers on the field now, he felt he had misjudged them.

Pires and Schneider, who had been so skillful in training, were performing terribly on the field!

But he was more curious about what Audrich would do.

Would he scold the two players during halftime?

Or would he substitute them?

Or tell them not to try dribbling anymore?

The unexciting first half ended with the referee's whistle, and the fans in the stands were somewhat dispirited, with many dozing off.

Millwall didn't seem as threatening as before.

In the first half, they only had two shots on goal, and the two forwards, without support, were almost invisible in the latter part of the half.

When Audrich returned to the dressing room, he didn't change the tactical setup. He just drew the positions of a few Luton players on the tactical board and reminded the team's defense to pay attention to the opponents' movements.

Before the second half, after the other players had left, Audrich specifically called Schneider and Pires to stay behind. The three of them lagged behind, with Audrich in the middle, his arms around their necks.

After the halftime break, the two players, having calmed down, realized they had performed terribly in the first half and couldn't lift their heads.

Previously, they had complained that the boss didn't give them a chance to show their dribbling skills.

Well, the boss allowed them to play freely, but they ended up performing so poorly.

They felt ashamed!

They were utterly embarrassed!

"You two were really tired in the first half."

"Huh?"

Pires and Schneider looked up in surprise, seeing Audrich's face close to theirs, looking a bit confused.

Really tired?

Not really bad? Really poor?

Audrich rolled his eyes and said calmly, "Anyone could see that you would dribble as soon as you got the ball. What do the best defenders rely on? Their bodies? No, it's their anticipation! You two basically told the opponents what to do next. Do they even need to anticipate? It's too easy to defend against you."

Pires and Schneider lowered their heads again.

"The tactics remain the same, but you need to change your rhythm. Listen to me. After receiving a pass from a teammate, pass the ball three to five times before attempting to dribble once. Pass three to five times, then break through once. Understand? As you gain more experience, you'll almost instinctively know when to pass and when to dribble. For now, use this simple method."

After saying this, Audrich let go of the two players, patted their backs, and sent them out to the match.