Football: My AI System Provides Max-Level Predictions
Chapter 186 - 157: Rapid Ground Strike Penetrates the Defense Line! This Stunning Assist Sounds the Counterattack Horn!

Chapter 186: Chapter 157: Rapid Ground Strike Penetrates the Defense Line! This Stunning Assist Sounds the Counterattack Horn!

Without Totti, Rome’s strikerless formation is still thriving in Serie A, sitting high at second place, almost securing direct qualification for the next season’s Champions League.

However, to overcome the challenge posed by Inter, more effort is required.

Because Inter is the second-best defensive team in the entire Serie A, only surpassed by Juventus!

In the 31 rounds of the league that have completed.

Inter has conceded only 29 goals, averaging less than one per game.

This is even under the premise that Mazzari’s Inter was losing crazily in the first 11 rounds.

After 11 rounds, Mancini returned to Inter for a second term, and in the subsequent 20 league rounds, Mancini’s Inter conceded only 13 goals, ranking first among all 20 Serie A teams during the same period!

Even the number of goals conceded is 2 fewer than the Serie A powerhouse, Juventus.

Those who know the business understand the tricks.

Therefore, Huang Jianxiang had long anticipated Mancini’s adjustments.

"Mancini will not tolerate his team being recklessly attacked by opponents in the attacking third. I know Mancini very well, I was watching him play back in the days."

"After becoming the head coach of Florence’s first team, he has always been a defense-first coach in Serie A. Back then, even within our internal chat, there was a joke about him, saying Mancini would rather draw 0-0 than win 5-4!"

Liu Teng was taken aback, saying helplessly:

"But now Inter is the trailing side, they need to fight for the Champions League qualification, how can they give up the attack for defense?"

"Getting a draw against Juventus was certainly inspiring, but against Rome, it’s a different story, Rome is not Juventus!"

Huang Jianxiang turned his head and looked at Liu Teng’s anxious face, and smiled, then said in a senior tone:

"Liu Teng, don’t be anxious, Mancini’s adjustments have their deeper meaning."

"The key lies in Tang Long’s position change from attacking midfielder to a deeper role."

"This not only liberates Tang Long but also frees up Inter’s front line, there’s still plenty of time, let’s continue watching."

After Inter retreated, Rome launched an unrestrained offensive!

They went all out as if their eyes were dyed red.

Last November, at their home ground, Rome’s Olympic Stadium, they were wildly defeated 4-0 by Inter, and scenes of that match flash through their minds like a film.

That match was practically the most shameful and embarrassing game Rome played this season!

In the Roman derby a few rounds later, their city rivals Lazio even raised banners ridiculing the Red Wolves.

The she-wolf on Rome’s team badge was artificially drawn into four disjointed limbs in the giant TIFO unfurled by Lazio fans!

That’s mocking their 0-4 loss to Inter~

"Damn, crush them!"

Even though he couldn’t play, the captain of the Rome team, Totti, watched with relish from the bench.

In one of Gervinho’s breakthroughs on the wing, Totti even excitedly jumped to the sideline and shook his fist at him, "Good job, crush them!"

Causing his foot to touch the sideline and the main referee to stop the match, then issued Totti a yellow card.

Totti was indignant, arguing incessantly with the fourth official.

The loud arguing attracted boos from the Inter fans behind the stands!

On Inter’s bench, third goalkeeper Berni was not pleased.

"Totti! This is Meazza, what are you shouting about, shout again and the referee will give you a red card!"

Totti rolled his eyes at him, seeing it’s Berni, he couldn’t help but sneer and snorted with his eyes upward.

"A guy who can’t play a single game all season, do you think you’re worthy to talk to me?"

Totti’s status in Serie A is undoubtedly that of the elder brother.

As long as he’s around, no one can outdo him in terms of seniority.

It should be remembered that even Inter’s head coach Mancini was once teammates with him in the Italian national team.

What are you kids compared to that?

Before Mancini could react, Berni rushed in front of Totti like a shot.

The two had already formed a grudge when they first faced off in the league, during that match, Totti was sent off with a red card, and Berni, for swearing at Totti from the sidelines, was also sent off with a red card.

At that time, Berni said he would take him down when returning to Meazza.

Half a year later, enemies meet again, and they got into it.

Head-to-head confrontation.

Totti: "What do you want to do?"

Berni: "You son of a ***, get back to your seat!"

Totti: "I %&&...%￥&!"

Berni: "You @*%￥%...(&!"

This shoving ended with both of them receiving a red card.

According to regulations, players who are sent off with a red card, whether they are on the field or substitutes, cannot remain in the stadium and must go back to the backstage of the field.

Mancini, pulling Berni, watched Totti walking backwards step by step, disappearing into the player tunnel, then he let go, allowing Berni to leave.

"How many cards is this, I’ve forgotten." Mancini said helplessly.

"Third red card this season, boss, next time there’s a chance, I’m still gonna take down that son of a ***** Totti!" Berni chuckled, draping a white towel over his shoulder as he walked away.

This incident was just a small interlude.

However, the mindset of Rome’s players was clearly affected.

Playing Inter twice in a row, team soul Totti was sent off twice, once on the field and once off the field.

Without their veteran teammate, these young guys on the field were a bit panicked.

Especially Gervinho, Iturbe, Ivalvo, and the three black players.

As they panicked, their heart rate accelerated, and their running became even more erratic!

At one point they were like headless flies, flying around the pitch.

In the 37th minute, sandwiched by two players, Gervinho tried to power through on the flank and ended up taking the ball out of bounds.

His supporting foot even failed to stand firm, and he slipped and landed on his rear with a thud.

Tang Long saw clearly that Gervinho’s expression changed significantly.

He no longer just brushed it off with a smile and stood up as before.

Instead, he sat on the ground for a full three seconds before struggling to stand up with the help of a teammate’s outstretched hand.

Tang Long looked at the other two forwards and noticed signs of fatigue to varying degrees.

Also Rome’s midfielder Nangland.

This Mohawk-haired Indo-Belgian has a habit of smoking.

He is often photographed by the media smoking privately.

This guy’s stamina also showed issues, with his hands on his knees, head down, gasping for air.

Large beads of sweat drip from his forehead onto the grass.

A game lasts 90 minutes.

Close to 40 minutes of the first half, players generally hit a physical bottleneck period.

If they make it through these five minutes, after a 15-minute halftime break, their endurance will greatly recover.

But for Rome’s players, the physical bottleneck period came earlier in the first half, and the impact of exhaustion was even greater than before!

That’s because Inter Milan’s defense was too tight, and without the youthful Totti to draw attention, operating their 460 no-striker formation to penetrate and stretch Inter’s defense requires more running!

Rome’s players were exhausted.

"Seize these five minutes, they can’t move anymore!"

Tang Long commanded his teammates on the front line.

Podolski, Shaqiri, and Icardi instantly got tense.

They knew their opportunity had arrived.

The moment for a defensive counterattack had come!

Just two minutes later, Tang Long showcased what it means to be a master of coquettish passing from the midfield position!

Once again, it was Gervinho, on the flank, refusing to pass and carrying the ball forward when he was blocked by Yuto Nagatomo.

Wanting to turn, he was suddenly tackled by Tang Long, who used his solid hips to bump him away!

"Wow! Beautiful interception!"

"Tang Long, wearing a black mask, used his hips to bump Gervinho away!"

"This is a strategy commonly used by players, because Manchester City superstar Yaya Toure once said the most muscular and explosive part of a football player’s body is not the thighs nor the calves, but their hips!"

As Huang Jianxiang finished speaking, Tang Long looked up and delivered a long pass!

He had already locked onto Shaqiri’s position on the left, just waiting to intercept the ball for a quick counterattack.

A De Bruyne-style ground strike pass!

The ball was like an extending ruler, parallel to the sideline at 10 centimeters, sticking tightly to the turf, flying towards Shaqiri!

"Good ball!"

"A straight line!"

"De Rossi missed the tackle to block it!"

"Shaqiri has the ball with a completely open field!"

"Tang Long’s ground long pass led Shaqiri into the open space in Rome’s backfield!"

"Gervinho couldn’t catch up at all!"

"Piania is chasing back!"

"Can’t catch up!"

"Nangland smoked too much, he can’t catch up either!"

"Shaqiri cuts inside, enters the penalty area!"

"Shoots!!"

"A blistering shot to the upper corner of the goal!"

"Goal, goooooooooooooal!!"

"Inter has equalized the score, 1-1, the scorer Shaqiri, assisted again by Tang Long!"