Chapter Ninety-Eight: The Crucial Gentleman

The first half concluded amidst a flurry of attacks from Dalian Dongfang and counter-attacks from Yunjia Tianyu. The score remained locked at zero-zero. Despite being a man down, Yunjia Tianyu did not allow their opponents many clear-cut opportunities, while Dalian Dongfang remained cautious of counter-attacks even while pushing forward. Coupled with the outstanding performances of both goalkeepers, a scoreless draw was a fair reflection of the match.

"Everyone played remarkably well in the first half! Considering we were at a disadvantage from the start and had no room for tactical adjustments, the fact that you managed to secure this scoreline is a testament to your hard work." Ding Yu did not hold back his praise for his players. He chose not to dwell on why the team had been at a disadvantage from the opening whistle—now was not the time for that. Although he could have easily singled out those girls for a lecture, he refrained. "I want to commend two players. First, Hu Gandang; he did an excellent job of neutralizing their pivot, that number eleven striker, effectively stifling their ability to organize attacks. Second, Long Bisheng. As a lone striker, he held up their backline admirably and even created a few dangerous shots. It’s a pity their goalkeeper was in such fine form."

No one disputed this assessment. Hu Gandang’s contribution went without saying, and Long Bisheng’s performance was equally brilliant. Had he not been there to anchor the attack, Yunjia Tianyu’s defense might have buckled under the relentless pressure of a Dalian Dongfang side that had pushed their entire backline up without fear. In that regard, his performance exceeded Ding Yu’s expectations. The only regret was that, playing with ten men, Long Bisheng had few opportunities to showcase his ball-handling skills, leaving the opposing coach, Chi Shangbing, still seeing him as merely a center-forward who was heavy on top and light on his feet.

"Defensively, we’ve done a great job. Looking at the first half, their attack struggled to threaten our full-strength defensive unit, so we must attack! We cannot let them keep us pinned back! We are a young team; we cannot be so pragmatic that we try to drag the match into a penalty shootout just because we are a man down. There is nothing inherently wrong with that—no tactic in football is wrong, only the timing of its use—but we aren't that old yet."

"Dai Guangming." He turned and called out softly. Dai Guangming immediately responded, "Yes!"

"In the second half, move to the left wing and play as a left midfielder," Ding Yu said firmly. "First, it will help our wings fly again. Second, it will suppress their right-back, who has strong attacking capabilities. Third, it will allow you to bypass those two troublesome defensive midfielders... I imagine you took quite a beating from them in the first half."

Dai Guangming smiled. "It was alright."

Even though he said that, everyone knew that if Ding Yu were to praise a third person, it wouldn't be Wu Bufan, who had saved three dangerous shots, but Dai Guangming, who had single-handedly occupied two defensive midfielders and kept them from joining the attack.

"After Dai Guangming moves to the left, Zhong Tao will shift to the center, dropping back slightly to link up the midfield and attack. Use your speed and your ability to make late runs, and with Long Bisheng providing cover, look for opportunities to break through. Of course, your primary task is to pin down their two defensive midfielders so that Hu Gandang doesn't have to bear too much pressure."

Hearing this, Hu Gandang immediately raised his hand in protest. "Marking that bastard is easy! I’m not afraid of the pressure!"

"Oh, give it a rest. Look at how you were panting when you came off! The opponent is faster and more agile than you, and you have to coordinate with the defensive line at all times. I know you have great stamina, but this isn't just about physical endurance! The pressure is mental! Even someone with the best stamina doesn't necessarily have the best mental fortitude, and no one can handle being stretched like a bowstring forever! I don't want you ending up a simpleton with a fried brain by the time the game is over," Ding Yu joked. The other players burst into laughter, and Hu Gandang fell silent.

"In the second half, attack when it’s time to attack and defend when it’s time to defend. When we have set pieces, Li Jie, you continue to join the attack—don't fear their counter-attacks. When you push up, their tall striker will be forced to drop back to defend, because their defenders won't have the energy to cover you while marking Long Bisheng. That way, we can still neutralize their counter-attacks! With one less tall player in the front, I don't believe their other small striker can break through our half and score on his own!" Ding Yu took a breath. "We are effectively missing an attacking midfielder, but we are at full strength everywhere else. To make up for this, Dai Guangming, Zhong Tao, and Zhang Yi, you three must take turns filling the gap in the middle. You three will likely be the most exhausted by the end of the second half, but you must ensure our diverse attacking options function smoothly! Do you understand? In our attack, besides aerial balls, we cannot ignore our ground game!"

"Yes! Understood!" the players replied in unison.

Ding Yu nodded, then turned to Long Bisheng, pulling him aside while letting the others rest.

Once they were out of earshot, he looked at Long Bisheng for a long time—nearly a minute—an incredibly luxurious amount of time during a fifteen-minute halftime break. Then he said, "Long Bisheng, I didn't want to put too much pressure on you so soon. After all, you are different from the others. They have been receiving formal, professional training since they were four or five, while you have only been training for a little over three years. Before this match, I intended to use you as a secret weapon because, outside of our own people, no one knows just how far your technical skills have progressed—not even Chen Yongjun, who was recently cut from the squad. Unfortunately, you no longer have the luxury of being a secret weapon. You are our greatest hope for victory in the second half."

Long Bisheng looked at Ding Yu without speaking. He was no longer the Long Bisheng who would be stunned into silence a year ago at the thought of becoming the tactical focal point. Over the past year, he had learned the meaning of following orders.

"In the second half, the ball will be focused on you. Everyone will revolve around you. Whether it’s an aerial cross or a ground pass, the ball will eventually find its way to your head or your feet, and you will decide what to do. Their center-back isn't as good at winning headers as Cai Guoqing, and he isn't as fast at turning as Li Jie. I believe you can beat him, but you cannot give their sweeper a chance to fill the gap. They say that extraordinary times create heroes; the current situation has pushed you to this point. Whether you can carve out your own legacy depends on how hard you work."

"When we cross the ball, find a way to smash it into the net or pass to a better-positioned teammate. When we play on the ground, control the ball at the edge of the box, and use the turn-and-shoot technique you've been working on for the past six months to blast it home."

"I don't need you to track back. You are a striker; a striker’s job is to score or help others score. When we are defending, harass them near the center circle, but do not drop back into our defensive third. I know you have stamina, but you aren't fast; once you drop back, you won't be able to get back up, and we need you up front."

"Only when the tide is high can a hero’s true colors be revealed. Today’s events have dealt us a difficult hand, but to some extent, they have provided you with a chance to shine—a chance to make a name for yourself among your peers!"

"Dai Guangming has the ability, but their two defensive midfielders are watching him closely. Hu Gandang has the ability, but he has to deal with that striker, Fan Pengfei. Zhong Tao is a disruptive shooter, and Zhang Yi doesn't pose a direct threat to the goal—only you can directly threaten their net. Therefore, you must score the opener before they do!"

Long Bisheng listened intently. He didn't interrupt, and only after Ding Yu finished did he nod. "I understand. I will do my best. When I have a chance to shoot in the second half, I will be more composed."

Ding Yu patted his shoulder and walked toward the rest of the team. "Alright, get ready to go back out!"

***

When he stepped back onto the pitch, Long Bisheng’s heart was calm.

Even though Ding Yu had given him a difficult task—the weight of the entire team’s victory suddenly resting squarely on his shoulders—he felt strangely at peace. Last year, when Ding Yu made him the tactical core, the match hadn't been that important, and he had been completely bewildered. Now, in a match that would determine whether the Yunjia Tianyu '89-born youth team could wash away last year’s humiliation and achieve a better result, he had been entrusted with the offensive core role, yet he had steadied himself. He approached the coming second half with a cool head.

Some players perform brilliantly in routine matches but suffer from "heavy legs" in crucial ones. Others, while unremarkable in daily training, often shine brighter than usual when the pressure is on. We call such players "clutch players."

When assigned a heavy responsibility in that meaningless match last year, Long Bisheng had been so panicked he didn't know which foot to step with first. But in this critical match, he had become composed. Of course, we cannot say he is a "clutch player" just yet, but to a certain extent, he had acquired the mental fortitude to become one.

Being able to face a daunting task with a calm mind is, in itself, the prerequisite for creating miracles.