Football: My AI System Provides Max-Level Predictions
Chapter 112: A dangerous signal is spreading, red lights start to flash!

Chapter 112: Chapter 112: A dangerous signal is spreading, red lights start to flash!

Eighty thousand fans chant Icardi’s name in unison!

The cheers reverberate through the clouds.

In an instant, the Meazza Stadium almost becomes the very center of Milan city.

Wang Wen, the director of Channel 5 sitting in the golden stand of the stadium, is also infected by the atmosphere.

Led by the official DJ, he and the fans around him shout:

"I-car-didididididdi!!!"

On the football field, glory always seems to belong to the final goal scorer.

They are the great heroes under the spotlight of the stage.

However, the behind-the-scenes operators who connect the threads are the real behind-the-scenes players who set everything up!

The director is knowledgeable, the broadcast screen timely cuts to the Inter coach Mancini.

Mancini is beaming with smiles, making a kicking motion towards the assistant coach Herrera behind him.

Unaware fans might think Mancini is applauding Icardi’s final calm push shot.

But far away, Chinese fans watching television have seen the clue.

-[Mancini gently mimics a ball-chipping action, obviously, he is imitating Tang Long’s inside-foot chip shot!]

-[That pass was amazing, directly over Alan’s head, right into the path of the advancing left-back Santon!]

-[It seems Mancini is also very clear that the reason Icardi could score is mainly due to Tang Long’s organization in the midfield.]

-[Without Tang Long there wouldn’t have been Icardi’s subsequent goal, although this wasn’t a direct assist from Tang Long, the "Sugar-coated Bomb" combination still fired the opening shot today!]

[Haha, Mancini understands football, and I understand football, so I=Mancini.]

In fact, Mancini was not only applauding Tang Long’s deft lob pass.

He saw clearly that this lob pass was just a link in the chain of this attack!

And the initial spark of the attack started with Tang Long’s crucial decision at the moment of receiving the ball!

Instead of choosing to pass back, he decisively moved forward, bypassing Girilme!

Udinese’s midfield line pressed very high, Girilme was almost sticking to Tang Long.

If he didn’t bypass him, Inter’s defense would have been further compressed.

Meanwhile, Udinese’s forwards Tello and Di Natale also lurked on both sides, ready to cut off passing lines.

At one point, Mancini thought Tang Long either had to pass back or the best choice would be a long clearance to remove the ball from the danger zone.

But Tang Long’s approach was clearly bolder and more skillful!

He chose to bypass Girilme and dribbled 5 meters forward.

Savagely pierced into the gap between the midfield and defensive lines!

This instantly tore a hole in Udinese’s midfield defense!

The subsequent lob pass merely widened this opening, exposing the blood and flesh to Santon, leaving him to tear it up!

In the stands of Meazza Stadium.

A middle-aged man wearing a black hat and sunglasses, holding a notebook, writes and draws:

"The anticipation of the situation was very precise, calm and composed performance, accurately found the gap between the defensive and midfield lines."

Actually, at the beginning of the match.

Mancini once told assistant coach Ehler:

"As long as we score first in this match, I have complete confidence to win it."

But actually, Mancini’s confidence inside was just sixty to seventy percent~

His worry stemmed from the fitness issues of these starting Inter players.

For three consecutive matches, he almost made no personnel adjustments.

Mancini, with years of experience in the football world, knew the importance of rotation!

A great team is never supported by just the starting eleven.

Like an off-road vehicle crossing thousands of kilometers of desert, without several good spare tires, it’s impossible to complete the long journey.

But the current Inter squad doesn’t allow Mancini to make too many adjustments under pressure — the gap between the substitutes and starters is just too wide!

Blame the boss, he’s the one insisting on advancing on all fronts!

"Ehler, don’t get too excited yet," Mancini told the assistant, "Now we’re facing the most difficult moment, if we can hold on to a 1-0 lead until halftime, then I’ll feel confident telling you we can win this match."

Ehler looked a little puzzled.

At the start of the match, you didn’t say that to me?

"You’re being too cautious, boss, this is our home ground, look at our packed fans, this atmosphere, I believe there’s no problem taking down our opponents." Ehler remained confident.

"Hope so, hope these kids can survive the first half."

Mancini took a deep breath, a trace of worry flashed in his deep blue eyes.

After the game restarted, the on-site fans gradually calmed down from the joy of Icardi’s goal, continuing to watch the match seriously.

Listening to the stadium atmosphere gradually returning to normal decibel levels, Mancini knew this was just the calm before the storm.

Thus, a strange scene appeared!

Mancini’s body language suddenly became more pronounced.

He seemed more nervous than at the start when it was 0-0.

Every run of play, every choice of passing line, he reminded players not to lose focus.

He was busy nonstop on the sidelines, pacing back and forth.

Even the baffled commentator humorously said:

"What’s up with Mancini? His running distance likely won’t be much less than the players today."

"Is this a case of itchy feet wanting to play himself?"

On the field, all Inter players felt Mancini’s anxiety and unease.

But only Tang Long understood Mancini’s thoughts.

He also immediately sensed some subtle changes.

AI systems continuously transmitted real-time big data analysis of the scene.

Comparing these data, Tang Long discovered the whole team was down by about 20% from the last match.

Many times, when Tang Long needed the two wings to quickly open up and pull apart, the younger Shaqiri could still quickly create space, taking away an opponent midfielder.

But Podolski was exhibiting a tendency to jog, occasionally waving to Tang Long!

That wave wasn’t a request, but a signal to him:

"I’m not open, don’t pass to me."

Tang Long realized this was a very dangerous signal!

Especially since it was only the 27th minute of the first half, not even half an hour in, and a teammate was already experiencing stamina issues.

As time goes on, the severity of the problem will become more apparent.

In the 32nd minute of the first half, Udinese got a great counter-attack opportunity.

Girilme received the ball with his back turned, made a hip movement with his right foot to the left, simultaneously dropping his left shoulder, then immediately pushed off in the opposite direction with his left foot, shifting his weight to the right and tapping the ball with his right foot!

Attempting to use this move to fake past Inter’s midfielder Gualin.

Gualin hesitated for a moment, but relying on his strong physique, he stepped forward and blocked Gigliame with his position!

"Where do you think you’re going!"

In that moment of contact, Gualin’s expression was pained.

After all, Girilme is also a hulking figure.

Despite this, Gualin still gritted his teeth, winning the confrontation and pushing the ball to Tang Long before falling.

There were good opportunities to his left and right.

However, seeing Shaqiri’s increasingly heavy steps and Podolski’s constant gasping on the right side, Tang Long lifted his head, looked far ahead, and pulled his calf back, striking the ball hard with the inside of his foot—he intended to connect directly with Icardi!

Icardi clearly did not expect Tang Long to send a long pass from five or six meters in front of the penalty arc!

This sudden connection caught Icardi somewhat off guard.

Fortunately, Tang Long’s pass was very comfortable, directing it perfectly into an open space on the left.

As long as Icardi rushed forward, he would have a great chance to get the ball inside the penalty area.

"Wow, that’s a long pass of over 40 meters!"

"The ball is flying toward the left with a strong curve!"

"Icardi is determinedly chasing the ball, racing against Udinese’s left-back Sylvan!"

"Come on, Icardi!"

"...Oh no, it seems to be just a bit short."

The faster Silva blocked the path, forcing the ball out over the byline.

Icardi turned back and gave Tang Long a thumbs up, "Good, good ball, great pass!"

But that run exhausted Icardi!

He was panting heavily, sweating all over his forehead, even his speech stumbled a bit.

Tang Long couldn’t help but be a little worried; even the young Icardi was showing signs of fatigue, suggesting the entire offensive line was not on form.

Actually, it wasn’t just Shaqiri, Icardi, and Podolski.

Tang Long himself also felt the afternoon’s warming weather further eroding his stamina!

This March in Milan, the temperatures had risen exceptionally early.

This afternoon’s early match reached 24 degrees, with bright sunshine, glaringly dazzling, coating players’ necks in sweat.

Inter Milan, fighting on three fronts, is facing a stamina crisis.

But for opponents like Udinese, dealing with just one competition, this was clearly not a problem!

In Udinese’s coaching area stood Inter’s old acquaintance Stramaccioni.

Right behind him, another familiar face from Inter—Stankovic.

One was Inter Milan’s coach during the 2012-13 season;

The other was a club legend who played for Inter for many years and clinched the treble in 2010 with the team!

Both share inextricable connections with Inter.

But on the football pitch, now they each serve their own masters.

Once golden goblets raised with you, now blades unyielding!

"Push forward, they’re out of steam!" Stramaccioni unbuttoned his shirt collar.

"Press, squeeze, force! Opportunity lies at your feet!" Stankovic waved his fist.

In the 42nd minute, Gualin’s ball handling in the back field was somewhat sluggish.

Perhaps influenced by the previous clash, his foot seemed uncomfortable, the ball he passed to Tang Long was slow, intercepted by the tall forward Tello darting in!

A loss of the ball in the midfield could be a fatal mistake!

Tello, tall and strong, over 1.9 meters, charged towards Inter Milan’s penalty area like a bull with the ball.

"Don’t rush, look at my position!"

Di Natale shouted on his right side.

Tello didn’t tangle with the similarly large Ranocchia but instead knocked the ball to Di Natale.

Di Natale wasn’t tall, nor fast, but his stride frequency was extraordinary!

With a quick move to the right, little Juan’s extending foot came up short~

Shoot!

The small Di Natale struck from outside the penalty area, breaking open Handanovic’s goal at the top right corner!

1:1!

Udinese equalized the score!

In an instant.

The Meazza Stadium fell silent among 80,000 fans.

The massive venue was quiet as a library.

With the first half nearly over, they actually allowed them to equalize, what was going on?

On the sidelines, Stramaccioni and Stankovic embraced excitedly.

On the other side, Mancini looked at these former Inter figures with a bitter smile.

"See? I told you so," Mancini turned to the dumbfounded Herrera, "We couldn’t hold on, still couldn’t hold on."

"Ah, Tang should have proactively moved up for the ball; Gualin’s pass wouldn’t have been intercepted!" Herrera was clearly discontent.

"Nonsense, what does this have to do with Tang at this point, are you blind?" Mancini scolded him.

"Tang was in the protective position to receive the ball from Gualin; his position was excellent. It was Gualin’s slow pass. Seems like that guy fought too hard, and his stamina is faltering."

Thinking of this, Mancini couldn’t help but clench his fist.

How should he adjust in the second half?