Football: My AI System Provides Max-Level Predictions
Chapter 117 - 114: A Kick in the Center Circle Sets the Stage! Only Those Who Persevere to the End Are True Men!_2

Chapter 117: Chapter 114: A Kick in the Center Circle Sets the Stage! Only Those Who Persevere to the End Are True Men!_2

But when these veteran Udinese players saw Mancini actually swap Podolski for center-back Andreolli and start playing with a five-man defense.

These experienced veterans instantly shed their psychological burden!

Originally didn’t want to attack, but now you’re defending actively, leaving the midfield open for us to attack.

Fine, let’s keep attacking you!

Udinese’s assistant coach Stankovic appeared very excited.

As a member of the Udinese coaching staff, this was his first return to Meazza since retiring from Inter Milan.

The transformation from a player to a coach left Stankovic full of emotion upon returning to Meazza.

During my playing days, as an Inter player, I represented the blue and black jersey to win on the pitch;

Now as a coach facing them, my sole purpose is to defeat my old club!

With Inter Milan having fewer midfielders and focusing primarily on defense, Udinese unquestionably seized control of the midfield.

They kept passing the ball to the flanks.

Either they hit low crosses or delivered diagonal balls at 45 degrees into the box, fully exploiting the height advantage of three tall forwards, frequently launching aerial bombardments at Inter Milan’s goal.

Bang, bang, bang!

Bang, bang, bang!

Countless cannonballs were hurled towards Inter Milan’s penalty area from all directions.

Besides Ranocchia, the other two center-backs, Juan and Andrea Oli, both stand between 1.85 to 1.87 meters tall.

Already exhausted after playing the whole game, these three new forces, each around 1.9 meters tall, really put the Inter Milan defense through the wringer.

In the 85th minute of the second half, Udinese’s tall striker Tello suddenly bypassed Ranocchia, rushing towards the near post for a diving header!

Handanovic’s view was blocked, and he couldn’t see anything.

All he heard was a "thud". When he looked up, the ball had hit the crossbar and bounced out over the baseline.

A gasp of relief echoed through Meazza Stadium—how close!

Handanovic took this opportunity to remove his gloves and vigorously wiped the sweat off his forehead.

That moment really broke him out in a cold sweat.

On Inter Milan’s side, since Podolski left the field, their offense completely stagnated.

Partly because Mancini wanted players to pull back and focus on defense;

Partly due to the change in formation, with Podolski and Shaqiri no longer providing pressure on the wings, leaving Kovacic surrounded and squeezed in the attacking midfield position.

Despite his excellent dribbling skills and determination to push forward, it’s challenging for him to break through the layers of defense and connect with Icardi.

Behind the Inter coach’s area in the stands, many Inter fans hoping for a comeback leaned forward, shouting at Mancini:

"Stop defending, push forward, Mancini!"

"We need Tang Long and Icardi to link up; push Tang out!"

Assistant coach Herrera glanced back at these agitated fans with a complex expression.

Then tentatively said to Mancini:

"Boss, I think these fans have a point; Kovacic is completely contained right now. The only situation we can create is by pushing Tang out to link up with Icardi."

Mancini remained unmoved.

Instead, he gave Herrera a disdainful glare.

"What’s the matter, Herrera? I’m standing here directing the game, and I need to listen to what the fans say? Are you out of your mind? We’re already pressed defensively, and you want to push Tang Long out? If we listen to the fans’ advice, we won’t get even a single point."

The saying goes, in Italy, there are forty million head coaches.

Every fan has their own understanding of soccer tactics.

Today, Mancini was stubbornly leaning on the scales, determined to defend and secure a point!

Actually, it’s not that Mancini doesn’t want to win.

His approach is mainly based on two considerations.

First, the players’ physical fitness has declined significantly; even if Tang Long is pushed out, it’s difficult for Icardi to connect with him.

Moreover, Tang Long’s physical fitness is completely drained.

The second reason is somewhat subtle—Mancini has emotions!

He firmly believed at the season’s start that Inter Milan is only suited for single-line competition right now.

If they want to secure a Champions League spot at the end of the season, they should steadily abandon the Coppa Italia and UEFA Europa League, focusing on finishing top three in the league.

This is the strategic consensus most likely to achieve the target.

Today’s Inter Milan is no longer in the glory days of the 2010 Treble.

Who’s on the substitute bench?

Obi, Mavic, Di Marco, Bonazzoli...

If these guys were placed in the 2010 Inter Milan.

They wouldn’t even make it as substitutes, let alone reach the second team!

You’re expecting me to use a main squad of 11 players to defeat opponents on three fronts?

Dream on!

As a head coach, Mancini doesn’t harbor the great ambitions and thoughts of owner Toshihiko.

Toshihiko is a businessman; he must shape Inter Milan into a responsible big club to expand the influence of his family consortium locally in Italy.

And then venture into the catering, real estate, and even oil extraction industries, growing the family’s group business in Europe.

So for Toshihiko, Inter Milan is merely a public relations project to make a name.

Toshihiko insists Inter should fight on three fronts and charge forward, even losing with dignity, purely for business considerations, not from a purely competitive perspective.

So faced with the owner’s decision, Mancini was somewhat annoyed as well.