Chapter 12: Our Coach Is a Genius!

On the first day of summer training camp, Yang Cheng dropped a bombshell that left the 23 players speechless. With a flourish, he announced, "Let me reintroduce myself: I, Yang Cheng, am your head coach for the new season!"

The room went silent. Everyone—players, coaching staff, even the janitor—was dumbfounded. Here was the tiny club owner, fresh out of university, declaring himself head coach. Questions swirled in their minds: How old is he? Does he even have a coaching certificate? Especially after Adam Crozier's reforms that made the FA's coaching qualifications as strict as a Victorian headmaster.

Even the coaching staff exchanged embarrassed, confused looks. All except Brian Kidd, who was already in on Yang Cheng's little master plan. Yang Cheng's idea was brilliant (in his own mind): since he didn't have the official credentials, why not let Brian Kidd, the man with the proper certificate, be the nominal head coach while Yang Cheng worked his magic behind the scenes? And Kidd, it seemed, was more than happy to play along—maybe even thinking Yang Cheng was destined to shock the world with his genius.

After a whirlwind of preparation, Yang Cheng began his address with fiery confidence. "We will be promoted to the Championship next year as champions!" he declared, shaking his right hand as if swatting away every last doubt. "My confidence comes from looking at you all right here and knowing that together, in Bayswater Chinese, every single one of you will get everything you want—if you work your guts out!"

He didn't mince words: in his squad, no one was automatically a star. Everyone had to earn their place. "For me, attitude is everything!" he boomed. And he warned them that this summer training camp would be tougher than a two-dollar steak. "Only a high-level training can forge a high-level, battle-ready team! When you look back on this camp, you'll thank me for every grueling minute!"

Yang Cheng then dove into the nitty-gritty of his training philosophy. "Imagine the ball is a hot potato!" he said, gesturing wildly. "You must always keep a 10-15 meter distance when receiving it. Less than 10? Too cramped. More than 15? You're fumbling like a clumsy octopus. Get it right, and your pass will be as smooth as butter!" The players exchanged bewildered glances, trying to picture themselves as buttered toast.

He pressed on with his training tips, stressing that on the pitch, most of the time isn't spent with the ball at your feet—it's spent off it, making runs, creating passing lanes, and constantly scanning the field. "Every time you run to receive a ball, look around at least 10, 15 times. It might sound like overkill, but trust me, the more you observe, the fewer mistakes you'll make. It's like having eyes in the back of your head!"

Even Brian Kidd, Thad Fawcett, and Oliver Bartlett couldn't help but nod in admiration at the young man's passion and tactical insights. Yang Cheng also reminded them that simplicity was key: "On the field, the simpler your passing routine, the faster and more effective it will be. We're going for basic moves like catch-and-advance, and air cut catches—nothing fancy, just pure teamwork!"

After the meeting, the training camp kicked into high gear. The players were put through drills that, at first, looked like a chaotic mix of running, kicking, and confused yelling. But slowly, as they began to grasp the idea of maintaining that magic 10-15 meter zone and constantly scanning the field, a spark of understanding lit up in their eyes.

Yang Cheng's plan wasn't limited to the whole team approach; he had a tailor-made training regimen for each player. Center-forward Jonathan Steed was tasked with strengthening his bounce, while Modric focused on building his body to withstand the rough and tumble of the English league. The burly Huddlestone was enrolled in speed-intensive drills, and Saad Fawcett conducted rigorous physical tests to track every improvement. Oliver Bartlett joined forces with Fawcett to keep refining the training program, ensuring that every session was better than the last.

By mid-July, after two intense weeks, test reports came in with a big thumbs-up: the players had significantly improved in physical fitness, strength, and overall stability. Brian Kidd's assessment—and Yang Cheng's own keen observations—confirmed that the team was slowly adapting to these rigorous demands. The players were beginning to see the method in the madness, and even though it was tough going, they started to look forward to the new season.

But Yang Cheng knew all too well that building a mature, stable team wasn't something you accomplished overnight. This was just the beginning. With every drill, every passing routine, and every drop of sweat, he was laying the foundation for a team that would one day be invincible in League Two. And as he watched his players push themselves to the limit, he couldn't help but smile. In his eyes, he wasn't just a club owner or a head coach—he was a legend maker, and his genius was already taking shape on the training pitch.

"Remember," he shouted as the session ended, "if you run with purpose and work together, nothing can stop us. You'll look back and be proud of what we've built here!" And with that, the Beswater Chinese marched forward into the future, one determined step at a time.