C6 Copy Card

After an eighteen-year hiatus from the competition, Lucian was understandably thrilled. Yet, he couldn't shake the feeling that he hadn't reached his peak form—perhaps due to the low level of the competition or the loss of the system.

This nagging sensation was unsettling and even sparked a touch of irritation. Deep down, Lucian took immense pride in his past as a top league head coach, an experience that allowed him to hold his head high in the presence of any domestic coach.

The event was broadcast live across the city. Despite the local TV station lacking a dedicated sports channel, they utilized their general channel, recognizing the sponsored nature of the event and aiming to maximize benefits through live coverage.

Moreover, they partnered with the provincial radio station to air the competition on their sports radio channel.

"Mr. Anthony, could you share your thoughts on this competition?" the TV host inquired. They had brought in Anthony, a football commentator from Central Television's sports channel. A former Super League midfielder and football player, Anthony had transitioned to commentary after retiring last year, though he was not widely recognized.

"Prior to the competition, I reviewed all the participating teams. Millenium High's team is exceptionally strong. Several of my friends hail from this team, and it's clear their opponents are facing an uphill battle," Anthony remarked, briefly scanning his notes before addressing the camera.

"Additionally, from what I understand, Millenium High's coaching staff is on par with those of professional teams in lower-tier leagues. Their head coach, Wayne, is a seasoned domestic coach who has previously led a Vispheno Football Association League 2 team. In this amateur competition, he undoubtedly stands out as a top-tier coach."

"Oh, Mr. Anthony, what's your take on the other team, the school team from Sandalwood School?"

After perusing Sandalwood School's information, Anthony offered a smile.

"Well, we didn't have much prior data on this city-based team. What we do know is that their school is the only high school locally, and their school team wasn't initially eligible to compete. However, they've recently brought on a new physical education teacher."

The physical education teacher just so happens to hold a D-level coaching certificate from the Asian Football Confederation, which is why he was able to join the team on short notice. This implies that, until now, the players likely haven't had the benefit of professional coaching."

"Does that mean Millenium High is certain to win today's game?"

The host followed up, sticking to the pre-planned commentary script.

"Well, it's not that simple. Football is unpredictable, after all. Plus, what if the new coach has some unique strategies and training methods up his sleeve? Let's just watch and see how the game unfolds."

This wasn't a professional match, so the pre-game rituals were brief—just a few words from some officials, and then the game was on. Lucian's team was fortunate to kick off first. At the referee's whistle, the kids started passing the ball around in their own half under Lucian's direction.

"Anthony, what's going on here? I'm not quite following," the host inquired, turning to the expert beside him.

"You can see their head coach is quite astute—a true professional. He's aware of his team's limitations compared to the opposition and has opted for a conservative approach, focusing on tight defense to prevent any gaps. If they're lucky, they might manage to hold out for a draw."

"Isn't that a bit too negative? Won't the match turn into a dull affair this way?"

The host couldn't hide his contempt for Lucian's tactics.

"It's not as simple as that. The goal of any match is ultimately to win. When up against Millenium High, I'd wager that most teams wouldn't choose to clash with them directly. And if they manage to draw, that would be an achievement worth celebrating for this team."

After more than ten minutes of fruitless probing and failed steals, Millenium High grew frustrated. They had played against professional league teams before and had never resorted to such a passive approach.

Their captain repeatedly glanced towards the coach, Wayne, perhaps taking their opponents too lightly. Finally, Wayne couldn't stand it any longer and signaled for the team to go on the offensive.

With the command given, the team launched into an all-out attack, putting pressure on Lucian's players, who began to feel the heat. They were now too nervous to risk any more careless long passes.

Lucian, seated on the coach's bench, was feeling the pressure. As he watched the opposing team execute steal after steal, his shirt became drenched in sweat. Deep in concentration on the game's unfolding events, his thoughts were suddenly pierced by a long-absent electronic voice.

"Detecting the host's imminent risk of defeat, the system has paused its upgrade to activate crisis mode. Due to incomplete upgrading, not all functions are available. Only the Copy Card can be used, with a five-minute duration. Host, please use it judiciously."

The electronic voice from eighteen years past left Lucian momentarily frozen, his body shaking involuntarily. The substitute players, mistaking his reaction for a physical ailment, expressed their concern.

Snapped back to reality by their voices, Lucian faced them with an unexpected air of confidence that left the players speechless.

He reassured the team and then turned his attention to the Copy Card, examining its capabilities.

Copy Card: "Allows the host to replicate any game from their coaching career, transferring the players' optimal performance onto the current team for a duration of five minutes."

Having read the description, Lucian nearly burst into laughter. The system had never vanished; it was simply upgrading. It seemed that whenever he truly needed it, it would reemerge.

Fighting back his inner jubilation, Lucian felt his legs weaken. He reflected on every game he had coached at Tarragona, pinpointing the 1987 UEFA Champions League final as the pinnacle.

Their opponent was Barcelona. Engaged in a grueling triple campaign, they were stretched thin across La Liga, the King's Cup, and the UEFA Champions League, leaving the players far from their best.

Lucian had invested all his victory points in the system's Peak Card, elevating his players' performance to their absolute zenith for the Champions League final.

In that historic match, his team ruthlessly decimated Barcelona, securing a 4-0 victory and claiming the most prestigious trophy of his career.