Football: My AI System Provides Max-Level Predictions
Chapter 144 - 123: The Revenge Battle Against Samp, 0-3! The Blue-Black Corps Seeks to Redeem Their Honor!_3

Chapter 144: Chapter 123: The Revenge Battle Against Samp, 0-3! The Blue-Black Corps Seeks to Redeem Their Honor!_3

Mancini paused, not committing to an opinion.

In his original tactical plan, it was impossible for Yuto Nagatomo to be in the starting lineup.

Especially in this game, if the focus is on offense, it’s even more impossible for him to start.

Because if Yuto Nagatomo starts, he will be facing Sampdoria’s left-back Regini on the right flank.

Regini is a player who is 1.83 meters tall and very fast.

In terms of both physique and speed, Yuto Nagatomo is at a disadvantage.

For Yuto Nagatomo to use his usual bottom-line crosses to break through Regini is almost impossible.

Mancini’s original idea was to move Santon to the right flank, matching him against Regini.

Santon has the advantage in height, and he might hold his ground in confrontations.

However, Tang Long just mentioned it casually; he hasn’t faced Regini before.

In fact, led by Mancini, Inter’s coaching team has far more pre-match data and understanding of their opponents than Tang Long does.

After all, these coaches are professionals who know how to use a starting lineup strategy to sustain a 90-minute game.

Tang Long’s strength lies in his real-time judgment during the game.

These are entirely two different tracks.

Chiwo, eavesdropping outside, also shook his head with a faint smile when he heard Tang Long’s suggestion for Yuto Nagatomo to start.

"That definitely won’t do."

This week, Chiwo and Mancini had thoroughly studied Sampdoria’s lineup and formation.

By comparison, replacing Yuto Nagatomo with Santon as right-back is a wiser choice.

Of course, this would push Santon’s stamina even further.

"Mr. Mancini, in my opinion, you don’t always need a set starting lineup right now."

"In Inter Milan, many substitute players can still contribute to the team."

"Take Santon, for instance; he has been plagued with injuries and couldn’t secure a starting role when he joined, but everyone has seen his performance in recent games."

"Many times, Santon’s wealth of experience and his strong desire to prove himself are indispensable parts of our progress."

After Tang Long finished speaking, he left Mancini’s office.

Mancini also began to ponder over Tang Long’s suggestion.

At the beginning of the season, he indeed thought that Inter Milan’s starting lineup and their bench players were worlds apart.

The starting lineup is first-class in Serie A, but what about the substitutes?

Even many of them would struggle to start in mid to lower-tier league teams.

But is this really the case?

Santon, Andreolli, Obi, Bonazzoli...

Are these substitute players really that weak?

At least in recent matches, things seem not to be that way.

Many of the rotating and substitute players have often become key players in the game!

Turnarounds, several turnarounds in games!

They have all shown champion player qualities.

Sometimes, at the final stretch of the league, a player’s strength cannot be entirely determined by his basic technical skills.

The reasoning is simple: football is never played by one person; it is a team sport of 11 players working together!

Fighting spirit, never giving up, gritting until the last second—such willpower and spirit often allow a player to play at 120%, or even 150% strength.

How to inspire the fighting spirit of those substitutes when the main players feel fatigued, as well as their desire for victory and determination to prove themselves,

is also a key point regarding whether Inter can advance on multiple fronts.

So when Chiwo placed his proposed starting lineup on Mancini’s desk,

Mancini took a pen and made several changes, particularly at some key positions.

When this revised list was presented to Chiwo, he was shocked!

Chiwo didn’t know what kind of intention lay behind Mancini’s modifications to the list...

...

...

"There’s a trick, there must be a trick!"

"Changing the starting lineup a few minutes before the game, even the old fox Zeman of Cagliari was fooled by Mancini!"

"Hmph, I know Mancini too well!"

"After losing 0:3 in our first encounter, he must be harboring discontent and is deliberately throwing me a smokescreen!"

An hour before the match.

When Sampdoria’s coach Mikhailovic received the starting lineup for Inter Milan from the fourth official,

he couldn’t believe it!

According to the list, Inter Milan had made at least five important personnel rotations compared to the last game.

In the striker position, Icardi was replaced by young Bonazzoli;

On the left and right sides, Shaqiri and Podolski were replaced by Kovacic and Obi;

The two defenders, Andreolli and Yuto Nagatomo, who always sat on the bench, also appeared in the starting lineup.

This was supposedly the 11 starting players Inter Milan would field at Meazza an hour later.

Mikhailovic felt that Mancini must have lost his mind!

"It’s definitely a trick, boss, I feel something’s not right, there’s definitely a trick here!"

The assistant coach was also determined.

"Mancini’s first match back in Serie A was a disaster at our home ground; now that he’s back at his own home ground, he must be seeking revenge. Where is there a revenge match that fields five substitutes unless he doesn’t want to win? Is that possible? Absolutely not."

Mikhailovic nodded with his hands behind his back, full of confidence.

"No worries, we’re staying the same to respond to all changes. All our tactical training this week has been targeting Inter’s starting lineup. You have to trust me; the list will certainly be modified within an hour."

But what Sampdoria’s coaching team didn’t expect was.

When the match officially started, and the starting players emerged one after another from the player’s tunnel, Mikhailovic glanced over each of their heads.

He was surprised to find that the names matched the starting lineup published an hour before the match exactly!

He and his assistant coach exchanged looks.

Mancini, oh Mancini, what exactly are you trying to do?

Do you not want to win?

Are you preparing to hand over points to me, your old teammate?

He looked over to Mancini on the other side of the coaching area, only to find him calmly chewing gum.

He even occasionally blew bubbles, looking strangely adorable.

"Something’s not right, boss, Mancini hasn’t changed the starting lineup. There’s still a trick here!"

"It’s a trick, a trick, definitely a trick! Damn it, what’s Mancini trying to pull?"

Mikhailovic suddenly felt a wave of tension.

But after a brief surprise, Mikhailovic tried hard to calm himself down.

"No matter how it changes, this person won’t change. If we shut down this guy, we’ll win the game!"

Mikhailovic took the starting lineup from the assistant coach and drew a big cross on Tang Long’s position!