C4 Officially Leaving the Mountain

Although Rhys looked rather displeased, Lucian was considered "one of us." No matter how excellent Rhys was, he was still an outsider. The principal believed it was better to lose Rhys's talent than to alienate Lucian.

Still, Rhys was a scarce specialist teacher at the school. Even with favoritism, it couldn't be too blatant. Otherwise, if Rhys felt undervalued and decided to resign, it would be a significant loss for the school.

"Since Mr. Henson is interested in joining the school team's training, I think it's actually good news for you, Rhys. You're aware of our school's limitations; we can't offer you extra subsidies like those key schools in the provinces and cities. In fact, you'll have to take on more work. This is your chance to relieve yourself of some of that burden."

While saying this, he gave Rhys a reassuring pat on the shoulder, but his gesture was far from Rhys's original intention. Moreover, Rhys was no fool; he understood that compared to Lucian, he was fighting a losing battle.

"Fine, go ahead and gang up on me because I'm from out of town. If I can't have what I want, then no one will!" Rhys thought bitterly, yet he managed to keep a composed face, exchanged a few words with the principal, and then turned to leave.

"Okay, let's wrap this up."

The students were gasping for air after their recent match, barely able to stand still in front of Lucian.

"You've all improved over the past week of training, but there's still a long road ahead. As it stands, our overall strength places us at the bottom among the city's competing teams."

Looking at the eager faces before him, Lucian was filled with a long-lost vigor. It reminded him of the time, eighteen years ago, when he first took charge of Tarragona. Both teams were underdogs, yet they brimmed with life.

"We have just three days before the competition begins. I'll arrange with the school for you to skip classes and train full-time. I've prepared a new training regimen for you, and starting tomorrow, you'll play two scrimmage matches daily to gain more on-field experience."

After finishing his speech, Lucian promptly dismissed the team and headed straight to the principal to discuss the upcoming competition. The school's leadership had previously deemed the event insignificant and consequently hadn't focused on the school team's training.

However, with Lucian now raising the issue, the principal felt compelled to take it seriously. Besides, the academic performance of the football team members was generally poor, with many ranking at the bottom of their classes. Skipping three days of school—or even three months—would hardly make a difference for them.

It would be beneficial for everyone if any of the students caught the eye of a professional football team and were recruited. Such an outcome would not only enhance the school's prestige but also allow the principal to share in the limelight and notch up some political points.

"Let's move it, everyone! Quick, quick, quick! Are you telling me you haven't eaten? With that little energy, how do you expect to last an entire match? At this rate, I won't even have enough players to fill the roster when the competition begins."

The school team boasted over twenty members, yet the majority lacked the credentials to play, not even as substitutes. Lucian's high standards weren't the issue; it was the players' lack of quality that was concerning.

Lucian had accessed detailed information on the competing teams through his connections. His meticulous analysis confirmed that several teams were at the level of amateur league play. While his own team had potential, the lack of proper training meant they were not yet up to the challenge.

Despite Lucian's sophisticated tactical planning and extensive experience coaching in the top leagues, it remained uncertain whether his players could execute his strategies during the match. Given their current skill level, he doubted they could meet his expectations.

Physical endurance alone was a significant hurdle. These kids had never participated in an official match, typically playing just for fun and lacking the stamina to endure a full game.

Even after a week of rigorous training, the situation hadn't improved, primarily because they lacked a professional fitness coach. In the professional leagues, teams are equipped with such coaches who not only conduct regular physical training but also ensure the players are physically primed for the season.

In such amateur competitions, it's unlikely that any team would exhibit true professionalism. Yet, the skill level of these kids was quite lacking. Lucian had initially planned to rely on the 451 formation as the team's primary strategy.

The 451 formation positions four players in defense, five in midfield, and a lone striker up front. It's a classic setup for a tight defensive strategy with the potential for counterattacks.

This formation was pioneered by Domenech, the head coach of the French team, during the 2006 German Cup. Domenech, himself a defensive midfielder, let his playing style influence his coaching tactics.

While a compact defense with counterattacking is a common approach in global football, the 451 formation was a reluctant choice for Domenech, adopted out of necessity.

Given Lucian's current predicament, opting for this solid formation was an astute decision. Furthermore, the 451 isn't inherently conservative; it allows for proactive and bold offense while maintaining a strong defensive foundation.

The key to a successful counterattack is a team that defends as a unit, swiftly establishing a defensive shape and maintaining proper spacing to constrict the opposition's attacking space. By defending with the intent to attack, the team can force errors and launch rapid counterattacks.

Easier said than done, of course. Lucian's decision to convert Arnold from goalkeeper to side mid-fielder was based on his natural speed. He also saw potential in Suren, the so-called 'little fatty,' who, despite his size, was surprisingly agile with notable dribbling skills. Together, they were Lucian's secret weapons for counterattacks.

Additionally, the sole striker, Abram, was the team's top marksman. While his shooting skills might not measure up to the prodigies of the professional league, they were more than sufficient for this level of play.

Abram's main drawback was his limited defensive capabilities and lack of speed. Consequently, Lucian had him focus on improving his pace and shooting in the days leading up to the competition.

During the actual game, Abram wouldn't need to worry about defense or steals. His role was to be ready at the front court, dashing forward as soon as the midfield or defense regained possession, positioning himself for the pass, and then taking the shot.

This was the "Iron Triangle" combination handpicked by Lucian. Yet, their training results were far from satisfactory. Beyond their insufficient physical conditioning, there was a lack of significant improvement in their overall speed. This weighed heavily on Lucian's mind.