Chapter 10: The Assessment

[Blue Team successfully breaks through]
[Blue Team successfully breaks through]
[Blue Team successfully breaks through]
....
[Blue Team successfully breaks through]

Thump!

Wei Lai collapsed onto his back on the ground, gasping for air. Time and again, he had tried to apply pressure; sometimes he succeeded in pinning them down, but other times he missed the window entirely. He felt as if he were completely out of sync with his teammates. Even when he directed them, gaps kept opening up. Where exactly was the problem? Wei Lai looked lost.

"Young man! Have a sweet Yakult!"

A cool sensation touched his forehead. Coach Yakult placed a bottle of Yakult on his brow, crouched down, and looked at him with a smile. "Do you feel where the problem lies?"

Wei Lai pondered for a moment. "I’ve become the weak link."

"Exactly!" Coach Yakult nodded. "So, how do you stop being the weak link?"

Wei Lai thought for a long time, recalling every scene, his judgments, his pressure, his positioning... His eyes suddenly lit up.

"Positioning!"

"Bingo!" Coach Yakult snapped his fingers. "That's right! It's all about positioning!"

"Don't just blindly stand behind them. You are a defensive midfielder. Your choice of defensive position needs to be sharper. Sometimes you need to stick tight, sometimes you need to block the passing lane—that is what choosing your position is all about!"

Coach Yakult patted Wei Lai on the shoulder. "Drink it, then continue!"

Wei Lai tore off the foil lid, downed it in one go, and said with renewed spirit, "Again!"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The opponents passed the ball time after time. Wei Lai kept running, pressuring, driving them back, blocking lanes, finding his spot! He forced the opponent's passes to stay within the safe zones.

Wei Lai placed his hand on the waist of the Blue Team player and pushed forward with force. The moment the opponent passed, he signaled two teammates to press even harder.

Press! Compress!

Watching the opponents' passing lanes grow increasingly narrow, watching them lose their composure, watching them being driven toward the sideline—just as the opposing winger received the ball, Wei Lai sprinted forward.

"Go get him, damn it!"

Bang!

With two teammates pinning the opponent from front and back, Wei Lai slid in horizontally, tackling the ball precisely out of bounds. Wei Lai stared blankly as the ball flew out, and a moment later, his face flushed red.

"That's awesome!"

Wei Lai jumped up, excited as a child.

Clap, clap, clap, clap!!

Coach Yakult walked over, applauding. "That is the essence of 'driving' in defense. Of course, it also includes positioning and other factors. It requires absolute control over small spaces. Congratulations, you did it!"

Wei Lai sat on the ground, looking dejected. "But I only succeeded once. I don't even know how many times I failed!"

Coach Yakult raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Guess what level your opponents and teammates are?"

"What level?"

Wei Lai paused, but he soon realized that the opponents' passing rhythm had been fast and steady.

Coach Yakult held up two fingers. "European second-tier league level. Of course, the players are 'castrated' versions! Their strength, speed, and explosive power have been significantly nerfed, but the rhythm they play at is absolutely that of a European second-tier league!"

"So, congratulations on experiencing the intensity of a European second-tier league press!"

Wei Lai's mouth hung open slightly; he couldn't believe it. Even if they were nerfed, that was still second-tier European level! Was he really that strong now?

"Can I try again?"

"Of course!" Coach Yakult handed him another bottle of Yakult. "Come on! Drink it!"

Wei Lai gulped it down, wiped his mouth, and said confidently, "Again!"

Despite his high ambitions and confidence, in the next ten exchanges, he only succeeded three times. The other seven were failures. This meant he still wasn't proficient enough. But just being able to adapt to that rhythm made Wei Lai feel like he was flying.

*Huuu~~~~*

Slowly opening his eyes, Wei Lai saw that the sky had gradually darkened, and the stadium lights had suddenly flickered to life. He was drenched in sweat. He stood up, stretched his body slightly, and headed home.

Once home, Wei Lai washed up and immediately returned to his room, preparing to sleep (train).

"From today, we enter the tackling course. Tackling efficiency is a key statistic for a defensive midfielder. A crucial tackle in a key position can even launch a lightning-fast counterattack for the team..."

Coach Yakult was a patient teacher, explaining every element in great detail time and again.

"Be decisive when you go in for the foot! When you see an opportunity, strike immediately!"

"Don't follow blindly, use your body to contest!"

"Don't forget to drive them! Make different choices for different situations!"

He was also very encouraging.

"Well done, my student. Your intelligence is enough to make up for any lack of talent!"

"The sweat you shed will eventually forge you into a steel-like warrior!"

"Don't give up! Use your willpower to keep going!"

On the 10th day, the course moved to interceptions.

"Compared to tackling, interceptions require more observation. You must observe not only the opponents but also your teammates. Your observation and judgment will determine your interception success rate!"

"Don't be fooled by their passes; trust your judgment!"

"Run! Only by running can you find opportunities!"

"Good lad, have a sweet Yakult!"

On the 15th day, the course reached the final lesson: tactical coordination. From this moment on, he entered real combat—actual matches. Wei Lai didn't know the time flow of the 'simulation arena,' but every time he entered, he could play 10 matches. After each one, his stamina would reset, and he would continue to the next. On average, Wei Lai was playing 20 matches a day in the simulation! Over 15 days, that was 300 matches!

During this process, Wei Lai kept learning and improving. He wasn't just learning tactical coordination; he was also mastering driving, tackling, and intercepting. Without realizing it, a month passed quietly. During this time, Wei Lai focused solely on his training. He didn't know how much stronger he had become, but he had certainly gained a great deal.

On the 30th day, Wei Lai entered the 'simulation space' as usual. However, this time was different; intense cheering erupted in his ears.

"This is Old Trafford! This is Manchester United!"

Wei Lai turned his head in a panic. He saw himself standing in a magnificent player tunnel. On the other side were players wearing blue and white striped jerseys, all with European faces.

That's right! This time, he could clearly see their faces!

Wei Lai was completely bewildered; he had no idea why he was there.

"Hey! Carlos, cheer up!"

Just then, someone patted him on the shoulder. Wei Lai turned to look and saw a man with thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a broad face. He was tall and sturdy, standing a full 190 centimeters.

Wei Lai blinked and looked down. He realized he was wearing a red jersey, and on the chest was a team crest he had never seen before. Two curved banners, top and bottom, read 'MANCHESTER UNITED'. Below that were the words 'FOOTBALL CLUB'. In the center was a shield, engraved with a red devil holding a trident.

"Hahahaha!! How about it? This is one of the super-giants, Manchester United! How many talented players hope to wear this jersey? And now, you are one of them!"

Coach Yakult's hearty laughter echoed in his ears.