Football: My AI System Provides Max-Level Predictions
Chapter 202 - 173: Sudden changes disrupted the team’s pre-match preparations!

Chapter 202: Chapter 173: Sudden changes disrupted the team’s pre-match preparations!

Sardinia is a beautiful island.

But what makes Inter players feel glorious is not the picturesque scenery here.

Napoli lost the game!

Who would have thought, in the early match of Serie A’s 35th round.

Napoli actually lost away to the relegation team Palermo!

to 1, they stumbled in a ditch.

So, as long as Inter beats Cagliari, Inter and Napoli will be tied on the leaderboard.

Only due to the disadvantage in mutual results, they would rank fourth.

With four rounds remaining, anything is possible.

"What did I say," Berni wrapped his arm around Tang Long’s shoulder, looking carefree, "In the Serie A sprint phase, relegation teams are harder to play than strong teams!"

"Once relegated, players’ salaries will be greatly reduced, those southern ruffians of Palermo definitely played against Napoli fiercely, hahaha, what a pleasant surprise!"

"We need to win all the remaining matches," Tang Long said, "Can’t afford to drop another point, after all, although the points are tied, the advantage in mutual results isn’t ours, the initiative is still in their hands."

Tang Long’s awareness is very clear.

The overturn of the competitor for third place is certainly delightful.

But to beat iron, one’s own strength needs to be solid, no more dropping points in the remaining matches.

One step at a time, first, play well against Cagliari, that’s the right way!

Serie A’s 35th round, Inter is away against Cagliari.

Due to Inter having a midweek European War match, their match was adjusted to late by the Serie A Alliance.

With Napoli’s defeat, this also gave Inter a certain psychological advantage.

However, when the players stepped onto Cagliari’s San Elia Stadium the next day, their mood wasn’t as great anymore~

The weather in Sardinia changes as quickly as a child’s face.

It was sunny with clear skies in the morning.

In the afternoon, there was a storm!

An hour before the match, the heavy rain slowly stopped.

"Can you play football in this damn place, it’s bad luck!"

Icardi, wearing his boots, jogged on the field a few steps, feeling a bit of resistance while running.

The condition of the turf is extremely bad!

Mancini walked a few steps on the grass in his leather shoes.

The puddles splashed, soaking his socks.

Cagliari’s stadium management personnel, sweating profusely, cleared the puddles with fresh water.

Mancini knew that even if the match could start, such a lousy venue is very unfavorable for Inter’s passing and control play.

"Herrera, what’s going on, didn’t you say today would be sunny, your intel is wrong!"

Mancini’s accusation towards assistant Herrera isn’t without reason.

Inter’s only two days of match preparation were based on a passing and control tactic.

Herrera had checked the weather forecast in advance, saying that on match day Sardinia would be sunny, our players could play passing and control away without issue, wearing them down with possession.

"Boss, who am I going to ask, damn Italian Meteorological Office, a bunch of worthless people, just taking money and not doing work." Herrera replied helplessly.

Actually, everyone knows quite well.

The key isn’t the weather.

It’s really because the condition of Cagliari’s stadium is trash!

The drainage system is practically non-existent.

"When I played in Serie A twenty years ago, Cagliari’s stadium drainage was lousy, and twenty years have passed, why is it still a mess." Mancini complained.

"Italian stadiums belong to the city hall, the ownership isn’t with the teams, who would spend money to renovate a rented house, moreover Cagliari doesn’t have money, I heard they’re going bankrupt next season." Berni chimed in.

Fortunately, it stopped raining, after half an hour of rescue efforts.

Most of the water on the field was cleared manually.

Though the ground is still full of potholes, quite muddy.

At least the ball can roll smoothly.

The home fans of Cagliari couldn’t wait any longer!

Although this small stadium can only accommodate a mere sixteen thousand people.

But as the only active Serie A team in Sardinia.

The San Elia Stadium is always packed to capacity for each match!

Amidst the noisy chants of "refund" from the fans, the referee finally decided that the match could proceed smoothly, so the refund curses instantly turned into cheering support!

The visiting team Inter kicked off first.

Icardi stood in the center circle, his foot on the ball, worriedly said to Tang Long:

"Tang, on this vegetable patch, how can we play passing control, what should we do?"

Training two days before the match was focused on passing control tactics.

But the impromptu torrential rain disrupted the team’s overall deployment.

"It’s okay, with me here, don’t panic."

Tang Long pressed both hands down, as steady as a mountain.

JU!

The match starts!

Icardi drags the ball to Tang Long, Tang Long passes back to Gualin.

This first ball almost made Gualin miss.

The football, passing through a puddle, suddenly slowed, Gualin quickly stepped forward and barely managed to get the ball.

Uh...

Tang Long’s face darkened.

Since it had rained, Inter’s players didn’t get a chance pre-match to adapt to the field.

How come it feels much worse than expected?

"Avoid this spot, careful of the puddle!" Tang Long quickly reminded his teammates.

Inter’s overall strength is two levels above Cagliari, soon gaining control of the ball, being the main holding side, while Cagliari appropriately retreats, waiting for a chance to defend and counterattack.

However, Inter’s control is very cautious because they have to actively avoid some areas of the field with severe puddles, causing irregular football rolling speeds.

But visual judgment of the field is bound to have errors!

In the 15th minute of the match, Gualin received a pass from center-back Ranocchia in the midfield position, fully utilizing his physical advantages, taking a large stride, and rammed an opponent midfielder with reasonable force, then carried the ball forward!

This is a tactic Gualin often uses in the backfield, also instructed by Mancini.

The benefit of doing this is it can consume one opponent midfielder, then advance through the middle, maximizing used empty spaces behind the passed player, pushing the offensive line about ten meters forward.

Mancini is replicating the Manchester City era template of Yaya Toure onto Gualin stroke for stroke.

However, Gualin is not Manchester City’s Yaya Toure!

His advance, compared to Yaya Toure, has excess speed but lacks finesse.

Mainly manifested in dribbling, the football distance between his two feet is too far, his control range over the ball is insufficient.

Swoosh——

As football passed through a certain midfield area, a puddle hidden under the grass unobservable by the naked eye suddenly slowed the ball.

The sudden change in ball speed disrupted Gualin’s dribbling rhythm.

He was raising his eyes to look at people - which is the right way - but while dribbling, he found the ball was gone!

"Huh? Where’s the ball?"

Gualin hurriedly slammed on the brakes, realizing he ran forward, but the ball lagged behind.

Cagliari didn’t hesitate.

Swedish midfielder Ekdal came out from the side, intercepted the football.

As Cagliari’s player, he is evidently more familiar with this pitch than Gualin.

Just like playing Minesweeper.

A few kicks, using a Z shape, bypassed the puddles only he and his teammates knew, then distributed the ball to the advancing wing Jop!

Jop didn’t stop the ball, directly swung at the goal!

Football spins in the air, splashing water droplets off the leather!

"Mine!"

At critical moments, the veteran goalkeeper Handanovic is absolutely reliable.

He was like a dragon emerging from water inside the box, leaped, grasping the ball from Cagliari’s striker Paul overhead, and crashed heavily on the ground!

Splash!

Spraying a splash of water.

While teammates marveled at Handa’s impressive high-level save.

Tang Long was already moving!

Handa like a spring bounced out from the puddle, circled around striker Paul, threw a handball to the distant Tang Long!

Handball is Handa’s forte.

He can accurately throw the ball to a player’s left or right foot within a 60-meter range.

"Counter-attack! Here we go!"