Born to be a coach [soccer]

Chapter 259

What was Anton thinking when he left the Stadium of Light?

People are willing to believe that the reality they live in is reality, just like in a dream, people can't even remember that they are dreaming.

Anton's experience at Sunderland, front to back, looked like a dream at all, unbelievable.

But once you are in it, the warmth when getting along with the team and fans, the excitement during the game, the ecstasy when you win and make progress, the frustration and sadness when you lose, every frame of emotion is like a small sharp steel The needle stimulated himself, the needle pierced the flesh.

If you even have to doubt this, then people will lose the basis of belief.

Maybe it's brotherhood, Bernard knows how to make Anton suspicious.While in London, Bernard showed Anton a documentary he "obtained" through special channels - it was a documentary about Manchester United winning the championship. In the documentary, Manchester United overcame all obstacles and won the 2010-11 season. The Premier League champion held a parade in the city of Manchester to celebrate.

It's hard to deny the authenticity of this documentary.This documentary also records various major events that took place in the Premier League clubs in the 10-11 season, including the lawsuit between Liverpool and the "dog blood" duo and the acquisition of Starway Group.After Manchester United won the championship at the end of the film, Manchester United players took an open-top bus to celebrate the victory in the city. Lu Xiaopang held the latest iPhone in his hand, which was released after the end of the 09-10 season.

This means that it is impossible for Bernard to use the images and videos of Manchester United's previous championships to "fake" such a documentary, which means that in "reality", it is possible that Manchester United really won the championship this season.

But in all fairness, even if Manchester United wins the championship in the end, it is impossible for Anton to be so shaken-he originally came to England to coach, and his intention was not to win the championship.

In the end, it was Sunderland who gave Anton a fatal blow.

In the 10-11 season of this documentary, Sunderland was not a newly promoted team at all.The newly promoted team is the "mortal enemy" Newcastle United next door.Sunderland has played the final of the "relegation madman" in the previous few seasons, hanging on the back of the Premier League, but has never fallen to the British Championship.

There has never been a "black cat" Sunderland facing relegation in the British Championship, so Anton has never had the basis to enter Sunderland.With his coaching qualifications in the Danish Super League, Anton's coaching of a British Championship team has been constantly questioned, and it is unimaginable to coach a Premier League team by airborne.

Human self-doubt is indeed the most terrifying. Once the foundation is shaken, Anton can't control the increasingly clear questions in his heart: everything he perceives now, what he sees, hears, and touches is real ?

Anton has never been a weak person, but at this moment he is at a loss.

Walk!leave!

Even if it is a dream, even if it is virtual, there will always be a boundary.

As long as you find that boundary, you can give yourself an explanation.

No matter how brilliant and glorious his coaching career has been in the past year and a half, Anton only wants to find "reality" and figure out the "boundary of dreams".

So he got up and walked out from the Stadium of Light.

Walked out from the center of the stage.

He crossed the roads and bridges that he had traveled countless times, and walked away from the crowded stadium, gradually drifting away.

He left because he really doubted it.

So, what is "real"?

When I first entered "Green Life", everyone lamented the greatness of this "virtual reality technology"-people used the same word, "realistic".like real.

Galloping on the court of "Green Life" is indeed infinitely satisfying, but people's vision, hearing, touch, smell... and even muscle memory can all be controlled by "virtual reality technology".

Turning this coin over, why is it impossible for human beings to live in the space created by "virtual reality technology", experience the stimulation created by technology for them, and be excited by the virtual stimulation?

When Anton left the Stadium of Light, there was only one thought in his mind, he must find that boundary.

But the farther he was from the stadium, the more empty he felt—what on earth did he leave? If he left "unreality", then this "unreality" was so unreal that he was so worried about it?

I repeatedly asked Russell to command the team for him, so that he could carry the game to the end. Is it because of this concern?

Anton strolled, and after an unknown amount of time, he came to Locke Beach.

In Rock Beach in May, the sea breeze is warm and pleasant.Anton looked around the promenade by the sea and looked at the Rock Lighthouse in the distance.Rock Beach had given him very vivid memories.

Anton walked for a walk, remembering that he had run here countless times in the morning, and also brought Vardy, who also had the same "self-doubt", here to practice.

They ran and greeted the old gentleman sitting on the chair basking in the sun.

Who is that old gentleman, the aging "Best Fan" Nelson Horton?

Anton looked at the empty seat, couldn't help but stepped forward, looked at it for a long time, and finally sat down gently next to the old man's old seat.

Now, he has turned from a sportsman to a bystander.

He sat on the bench and watched the occasional runner pass by.

"Hi Anton!"

The runner greets him.

Anton nodded slightly to those who passed by.

In the past, he used to be the runner, but now the role has changed, but the friendship between the athlete and the bystander will not change.

This world is too much to resist.

Anton thought for a moment.

Even if it wasn't "real", he was loving.

But where is the boundary?Just at the boundary between the beach and the sea, or really on the other side?

Anton is always sober, but completely confused.

Was all this thanks to his own brother Bernard?

Not entirely the case. In this world, who hasn't had a time to "think about life"?

So Anton sat silently on the bench by the sea, trying hard to sort out the doubts in his mind into a clear and unique doubt.

Suddenly, a tactical board appeared in front of Anton.

Red and blue magnets are used on the tactical board to represent players from both teams.

A rough voice sounded in Anton's ear: "I play 433, the 9th position is centered by a traditional standing high center, the two wings repeatedly intersperse and run, and the left and right sides alternate with each other... How do you deal with it?"

Anton: ...What's the situation?

A big head with a slightly fierce face suddenly appeared in front of Anton's eyes, with gray hair, a square face, and a pair of square-rimmed glasses.

The old man's hair was disheveled like a nest, and his eyes were fierce, but he held the tactical board firmly in his hand, and stared at Anton closely, not allowing him to avoid it at all.

Anton was suddenly asked, and naturally came up with a countermeasure, pushing the two blue magnets on the tactical board: "Choose the two most capable central defenders to defend the middle of the penalty area, and at the same time strengthen the midfielder's close press to prevent the two The winger takes the ball and swaps left and right... At the same time," he pushed the other three blue magnets, "I'm going to use offense as defense."

"Well, it's really not bad—"

At this time, the old man sitting next to Anton, holding a heavy tactical board in his hand, looked at Anton vigorously through the thick framed glasses on the bridge of his nose, and continued to ask questions without even giving Anton time to catch his breath. .

"I then let the two wings retreat slightly, the high center stays near the center circle, the whole team focuses on defensive counterattacks, here, here and here, three areas restrict your team's activities, and hit behind you whenever you have a chance ...how do you deal with it?"

The old man asked aggressively, as if he didn't give Anton any time to think, and tested his ability to react on the spot.

Without thinking, Anton stretched out his hand and continued to push the magnet on the tactical board, and responded casually: "I will change the formation like this..."

Football is the closest thing to war among modern competitive sports. The stadium is like a battlefield, and the situation changes rapidly. If you hesitate for a while, you may have missed the best time.

The old man and Anton were sitting on the same bench, facing a tactical board. You came and went, and your hands were fast. After a while, you have already simulated seven or eight possible tactics and responses on the field.

Under the merciless questioning and urging of the old man, Anton had no time to "think about life" and had no chance to "find the boundary". Tactics” puts forward countermeasures.

Finally, the old man in front of Anton suddenly threw the tactical board in his hand to his side, then came to Anton, squatted down directly, raised his head and stared at Anton closely, and said loudly: "You are fine, I am fine!" like you!"

Anton: ...Thank you!

"During the process of coaching Sunderland, you tried to use many different tactics. I watched all the game videos you commanded. I also watched your scene in Paris once..."

Having said all of this, Anton has no doubts about the old man's identity.

Some people think he is a "genius", while others call him a "lunatic". His tactical thinking is incomprehensible to more than half of football coaches in the world, but he is also inspiring a group of young and middle-aged football coaches who are rising: Gua Diola, Simeone, Pochettino...

"I believe I can win, as long as my players are 'not human'," Argentine football coach Bielsa looked up and stared at Anton through the glass lens, "but how did you do it? Your Players are 'all human'."

"As long as my players are not human" - this is a famous quote from Bielsa, which means that he thinks that his tactics are impeccable, but he is limited by the physical limits and technical limitations of his players.

When Anton heard this question, he couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth, and for the first time in recent days, he let out a hearty laugh.

Just because of Bielsa's appearance, he temporarily put aside his doubts about the world, and devoted himself fully to the tactical discussion with the paranoid old man.

At this moment, facing Bielsa's question, he showed a knowing smile and replied softly: "Then treat them as real people and use them!"

Ronaldo and Kaka took a taxi to the Stadium of Light.

The two just missed the rush hour at the Stadium of Light, thus avoiding the siege of fans.They "brushed their faces" at the entrance and were taken to the locker room by the staff.

At this time, all the top management of Sunderland were crowded with the players in the locker room.But in the locker room, only the irascible old man Russell yelled at Ann on his mobile phone: "We must find him, we must find him!"

The author has something to say: the history of the season that was "magically changed" by the author has been explained here.

Tip: The setting of this world is slightly similar to that of "The Man in the High Castle".