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"Alright, I'm going to adjust our first-half tactics!"

Coach Carter swiftly pulled out the tactics board and drew up a precise 4-4-2 formation. "Forget the diamond midfield, forget our previous game plan—we're going classic 4-4-2. Watergate, I want you to drop deeper and stay in our own defensive half as much as possible. Your main job is to shadow their captain, Butler, and disrupt his control on the ball."

"Yes, coach!" Watergate shouted.

"Sime, drop back to the midfield as well. Help Gu Ran defend against their right winger, Rother, and keep his sprint speed in check."

"Yes!" Sime replied firmly.

"Bread, cover the space behind Gu Ran. Don't let them exploit the gaps behind our left flank."

"Understood!" Bread answered loudly.

"Princess, Glider—you two, keep moving into space near the edge of the penalty area!"

"Got it!"

As Coach Carter continued speaking, he marked the board swiftly and precisely. "We are the underdogs. And as underdogs, we must play like one. Our main strategy is still defensive counterattacks. But today, I don't need you to sit as deep as we did in previous matches. I want you to attack with speed and long balls, breaking through their defensive shape."

"Gu! You have complete freedom! You can push forward anytime! And if you see an opportunity to shoot—take it!"

"Yes!" Gu Ran clenched his fists tightly, his blood boiling with excitement. This feeling—being at the heart of the battle—how could it not get his adrenaline pumping?

"Everyone, listen up! When Gu gets the ball, no matter where you are, push forward! Spread out! Cover! Support!"

"Yes!" The players roared in unison.

"Good!" Carter turned back to Gu Ran and warned, "Gu, your stamina is still my biggest concern. Their players are physically strong. The moment they realize you're our key player, they'll target you aggressively. Be smart about conserving your energy—don't waste it on reckless sprints and unnecessary duels."

"Yes, coach!" Gu Ran nodded immediately.

"One more thing—be careful. Don't get injured."

"Yes, coach!" Gu Ran responded again, this time more solemnly.

Coach Carter patted his shoulder. "That's all I have to say. Now go out there and take down Lampard!"

"Yes, coach!"

"Bucks—take down Lampard!"

"Bucks! Take down Lampard!"

The starting players huddled together, stacking their hands before breaking with a unified shout.

2:55 PM.

Both teams lined up in the tunnel.

Led by the three referees, the players walked onto the field, lining up for the traditional pre-match handshake.

After the handshake ceremony, both captains stepped up to the referee for the coin toss.

Triangle River's captain, Butler, won the toss, giving his team the right to choose sides.

Meanwhile, the Bucks' captain, Bread, secured the opening kickoff for his team.

As the match was about to begin, the students of St. Paul's erupted in wild cheers for their team.

On the sidelines, the Bucks' single drummer pounded away in support.

Without a home-field advantage, a lone drum couldn't stir much of an atmosphere—but that didn't matter. The Bucks' players stood firm, their eyes cold and their fighting spirit soaring!

The Bucks lined up in a classic 4-4-2 formation.

Triangle River, on the other hand, was set up in a clear 4-3-3—four defenders, three midfielders, one center forward, and two wingers.

In fact, 4-3-3 was Lampard's favorite formation.

Back when he played for Chelsea, Lampard played in this system under multiple managers—Mourinho's 4-3-3 and Ancelotti's 4-3-3.

And in Gu Ran's previous life, when Lampard transitioned into coaching, he frequently used the 4-3-3 formation as well.

This showed just how much Lampard favored this setup.

Mourinho's version of the 4-3-3 was highly attack-oriented, with midfielders and wingers constantly feeding the center forward, forming a relentless offensive machine. Ancelotti's variation, while still aggressive, placed more emphasis on defensive stability.

Lampard, in particular, idolized Mourinho's ultra-attacking 4-3-3.

Why was Mourinho called "The Special One"?

Because he was a true tactical genius. His strategic adjustments, in-game adaptations, and targeted setups were simply world-class.

He was also one of the most carded managers in football history, racking up more red cards in a season than most players.

When Mourinho first took over Chelsea, he implemented his modified 4-3-3 and dominated the Premier League, making the formation widely popular.

At that time, every coach in Europe was studying Mourinho's tactical approach.

In reality, the 4-3-3 formation wasn't new—it was an evolution of the old WM system.

The WM formation was essentially five forwards and five defenders. It sounds ridiculous now, but in early football history, it was the mainstream setup.

Before Mourinho's version, many teams already used 4-3-3—like the Netherlands, Spain, and Barcelona. However, their 4-3-3 focused on total football and possession-based play.

Mourinho's 4-3-3, on the other hand, wasn't about total football or possession—it was about high-pressing, box-to-box midfield dominance, and relentless wing play.

It was an incredibly intense and electrifying system.

It also elevated the importance of box-to-box midfielders to an unprecedented level.

Lampard thrived under Mourinho's 4-3-3.

However, when Ancelotti took over Chelsea, he adjusted the role of box-to-box midfielders to be more defensively inclined, leading to a drop in Lampard's goal tally.

Tactically, Ancelotti's 4-3-3 was more balanced and shored up Mourinho's defensive weaknesses, especially against strong teams.

But from a spectacle standpoint, Mourinho's 4-3-3 was the most exciting to watch.

So, for Lampard to field a 4-3-3 now, he was undoubtedly implementing Mourinho's attacking system.

For a weaker team, facing this all-out attack strategy was almost like facing an unwinnable battle.

However…

Lampard had overlooked one thing—this setup required a truly world-class box-to-box midfielder.

A successful high-press 4-3-3 also demanded elite wingers and, most importantly, an exceptional center forward.

Strikers like Didier Drogba or Luis Suarez were the ideal fits for this system—players who had both powerful hold-up play and a clinical finishing ability.

Without a top-tier striker, Mourinho's 4-3-3 was just a flashy but ineffective structure.

That's the thing about elite tactics—they need elite players to function.

And the perfect counter to a 4-3-3?

A 4-4-2 formation.

Why?

Because a 4-3-3 midfield has only three players, while a 4-4-2 has four.

A 4-3-3 has virtually no defensive coverage on the flanks. If the opponent executes quick wing attacks, the formation is easily bypassed.

This means the full-backs in a 4-3-3 can't push forward too aggressively—without midfield support, they leave massive gaps behind.

However, in a 4-4-2, if the full-backs break past the pressing wingers, they can wreak havoc down the flanks.

The key battleground for this match?

Gu Ran's left flank.

Gu Ran took a deep breath, fully prepared.

The match was about to start—

The atmosphere grew tense.

As the dramatic entrance music played, the stadium DJ shouted, "Now, let's welcome our special kickoff guest—Chelsea superstar Frank Lampard!"

The St. Paul's students erupted in wild cheers.

Lampard stood up from Triangle River's coaching bench, straightened his tailored suit, and smiled as he walked toward the center circle.

"Hold on! I object!"

Coach Carter suddenly jumped up from the Bucks' technical area, blocking Lampard's path!

Everyone was stunned.

The referee and fourth official hurried over.

St. Paul's staff rushed onto the field.

The home fans booed Carter furiously.

Unfazed, Carter protested loudly, "We won the kickoff! We should take the first touch!"

"But Mr. Lampard is our honored guest! No matter who has kickoff, he should take the ceremonial first touch."

"You should feel honored to have someone of Lampard's stature here."

"Exactly! You'll never get this chance again!"

The St. Paul's staff mocked Carter.

But Carter stood firm. "I have no issue with Lampard taking the kickoff—as long as he's not your acting coach! He's both your coach and your ceremonial kicker? You think that's fair? We may be the underdogs, but if you think you can walk all over us—think again!"

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