Chapter 18: This Is the Result of Training!

Today was the first team's endurance day, and Fan Fan Dejiahe had arranged for the players to complete ten 100-meter shuttle runs.

A total running distance of 2km was hardly a challenge for Eredivisie players.

However, Fan Fan Dejiahe had requirements regarding the players' speed; if they ran too slowly, they would need to add five more 100-meter shuttle runs.

"Run! Run!"

As Tang Ye passed in front of him, Ten Hag shouted several times at him, startling Tang Ye into immediately accelerating forward.

Glancing at his watch, he said to Fan Fan Dejiahe beside him, "Actually, this guy's stamina isn't as poor as we imagined; he just feels like he can't run anymore."

Ten Hag was right; although Tang Ye liked to slack off, he was only sixteen after all, and regardless, he could run more than those players in their thirties.

"You're paying more and more attention to him."

Fan Fan Dejiahe said with a smile.

Placing so much attention on a player who was only sixteen years old.

Ten Hag clearly intended to give Tang Ye a significant role!

"I feel I can develop him into a decent midfielder, but not right now."

Watching Tang Ye running on the field, Ten Hag said seriously, "Hmm, perhaps in two years, or maybe three."

"By the way, Erik."

Fan Fan Dejiahe remembered he had a message for Ten Hag: "The management said that failing to acquire a possession-style midfielder during the summer window was their mistake, so our target for this season will be slightly lower."

"We finished tenth last season; this season, we only need to guarantee a top-twelve finish. They will try to secure the midfielder you want during the winter window."

Although the Utrecht management spent all day doing nothing substantial, they were quite understanding toward Ten Hag.

The management could see that, based on Utrecht's performance in the first four league matches of the season, even avoiding relegation would be a difficult task.

The worst-case scenario would be the first team getting relegated to the Eerste Divisie, forcing the reserve team to drop down to the Tweede Divisie as well.

"Top twelve..."

Ten Hag muttered.

This was the Dutch top-flight football league, damn it; finishing in the top twelve was still quite difficult!

September 13th, Round 5 of the Eredivisie.

"Welcome back, brothers and friends, to the long-awaited Utrecht match!"

Wang Chao found the live stream source; in the frame, the starting players of both teams were still preparing in the tunnel.

As expected, whenever a Utrecht match was broadcast, the number of viewers in Wang Chao's live room was at least double what it usually was.

This was the influence of Brother Meng!

Recently, a conservative faction had emerged within the Happy Beans community; these conservatives were all loyal believers of Brother Meng.

If whether we could wash our feet tonight depended on the team's overall performance,

then whether we could add time, and how much time we could add, depended entirely on Brother Meng's operations!

【Good news: Tang Ye is in the matchday squad!】

【Bet on a first-half draw and second-half win, or a first-half loss and second-half win; buy these two, then sit back and wait for Brother Meng to stage a last-minute winner.】

【I have a question: why does Tang Ye always perform so well in the second half? What about the first half?】

【Idiot, Tang Ye sits on the bench during the first half; how can he score goals from the bench?】

The match began; facing Vitesse, Ten Hag once again deployed his signature 5-3-2 formation.

"Brothers, I watched the pre-match interview for this game; the Utrecht manager said he would give Tang Ye more opportunities."

"We can boldly speculate that Tang Ye will receive more opportunities in today's match."

Just as the streamer Wang Chao had said, Tang Ye began warming up in the 30th minute of today's match.

His performances as a substitute in the previous two matches had earned Tang Ye Ten Hag's trust.

Today, he would be given more opportunities!

The first half ended with home team Utrecht trailing their opponents 0-1, leaving the fans in the stands somewhat anxious.

In the 55th minute of the second half, Tang Ye and Amrabat stood together on the sideline.

Chinese fans were already getting excited, but the official Dutch commentator felt very puzzled by Ten Hag's substitution.

"With Utrecht trailing, Erik has substituted in a sixteen-year-old youngster; what does this mean?"

"Utrecht is underestimating their opponent!"

"They will pay the price for this!"

Clap! Clap!

High-fiving his teammates, Tang Ye ran onto the field chewing gum and, following Ten Hag's instructions, tucked a small white slip of paper into Ramselaar's hand.

The slip of paper contained the team's tactical instructions for the second half!

After substituting in Tang Ye and Amrabat, Utrecht actively shifted their attacking line further back.

This was because Tang Ye did not possess Jansen's strong front-court pressing ability, so Utrecht had to play somewhat more conservatively.

In the 61st minute of the match, Olijnik passed the ball to Nathan!

Nathan faced Tang Ye in a one-on-one duel on the right flank!

Nathan feinted with his body!

He played a fake move!

Nathan blew past Tang Ye with pure physicality!

"Damn it!"

Ten Hag cursed, because he felt that Tang Ye hadn't exerted much effort throughout the entire defensive process, as if he had intentionally let Nathan pass.

However, immediately after being dribbled past, Tang Ye began chasing back.

He reached out and tugged Natan's jersey, then suddenly dropped to the ground at the precise moment.

Slap!

Tang Ye completed a tackle on Natan while running!

This tackle was highly refined; Tang Ye did not kick the ball away directly but kept it under his control beside him.

He stood up and dribbled forward!

Vitesse's two attacking midfielders charged at him; Tang Ye felt a flicker of fear, yet the instant he rose, he had already assessed his teammates' positioning.

Facing the press, Tang Ye decisively played the ball!

Slap!

The ball flew toward the left flank as Ale ran forward, tracking its landing spot.

Control the ball!

Cross it!

Di Di Bala!

Push it into the near corner!

"GOAAALLLLL!!!!!"

"Goal! Di Di Bala scores, assisted by Ale, and Utrecht equalizes!"

Di Di Bala and Ale embraced, then both ran toward the corner flag.

It was a goal that leveled the score, yet Ten Hag's expression remained extremely serious.

He was thinking.

Because Natan had gotten past Tang Ye, Vitesse's defensive line pushed up; that was why Ale, after controlling the ball, could easily pass it to Di Di Bala's feet.

In theory it was simple, but for a player to complete such a chain of reasoning during a high-intensity match—

that was basically impossible!

While Tang Ye ran toward the corner flag to celebrate, Ten Hag called him over and, feigning anger, asked, "Hey, why did that number 13 get past you? Were you distracted?"

"I wasn't distracted."

Scolded by Ten Hag, Tang Ye grew apprehensive; the usually lax fellow immediately stood at attention on the spot.

"No, that number 13 was too fast; I couldn't stop him. Letting him pass first gave me a better chance to win the ball back."

"And..."

"And what?"

"And if I let him get past me, their defenders would be drawn out, giving Ale an opportunity."

"..."

Ten Hag said nothing, instead asking Tang Ye a question: "Do you know why you were able to think of all this?"

"It's training. Remember, this is the result of training!"

Tang Ye nodded repeatedly.

Ten Hag breathed a sigh of relief.

It seemed the fellow truly believed it.

That was good!

(End of chapter)