Chapter Sixteen: Premium Goods?

“I knew it!” Hao Shuai said with a smile.

He was also a midfielder and was certain that Wei Lai would play in the midfield as well, specifically as a defensive midfielder.

The reason was simple: during the promotion evaluation, after Wei Lai switched to playing as a defensive midfielder, his defensive value to the team increased significantly, and he created a lot of trouble for the opponents.

The other midfielders were also quite welcoming of Wei Lai.

After all, even though Wei Lai was a midfielder, his position didn’t conflict with theirs.

In fact, Wei Lai could provide them with defensive security.

“My name is Ma Chenchen!”

“Mao Ning!”

“Mei Guohao!”

“Zhao Jun!”

Counting Hao Shuai and Wei Lai, there were exactly six midfielders.

“Now, let’s divide into groups!”

Coach Zhao Xiaotang announced the team divisions.

Red Team:
Goalkeeper: Zhong Wenhui.
Defenders: Zhao Zijie, Li Kai, Chen Tong, Shen Haoxuan.
Midfielders: Ma Chenchen, Mao Ning, Mei Guohao.
Forwards: Guo Fan, Cheng Chong, Yuan Kai.

Blue Team:
Goalkeeper: Zhao Xuan.
Defenders: Wang Wenbin, Teng Shaoxun, Mao Biao, Zhu Xuri.
Midfielders: Hao Shuai, Zhao Jun, Wei Lai.
Forwards: Chen Jin, Wang Tianyou, Mumuti.

The Blue Team gathered together. Mao Biao, as the captain of the B team, spoke loudly:
“We have some new players, so I’ll give a brief introduction...”
“My strengths are physicality and heading ability. I usually play deeper. Shaoxun is good at pressing and likes to push forward aggressively.”
“Wenbin and Xuri both have solid attacking skills, so when they push up, the defensive midfielder must cover!”
“Mumuti is very capable and is our main attacking route; we focus on the left side...”
Mao Biao looked at Wei Lai and said, “The rest you’ll figure out during the game!”

Wei Lai nodded in understanding.

“Alright! That’s it, everyone shout out loud!”

They formed a circle and, led by Mao Biao, shouted loudly:
“Blue Team! Let’s go!”

Standing on the field, Wei Lai stretched and loosened his body.

He could feel his heart pounding fiercely.

According to the timeline, at this moment in the past, he would still be sulking in the C-level team, grinding away silently.

But now, this change was a great beginning!

Wei Lai’s eyes were bright, his fighting spirit soaring.

“Watch for the forward runs after kickoff...” On the Red Team, Mao Ning told Guo Fan, “Let’s sneak one on the flank!”

“No problem!”

Guo Fan patted his chest confidently.

Zhao Xiaotang selected three people to act as referees, while he stood on the sidelines with a notebook ready to record.

Many players needed observation in this match.

But two required special attention.

One was Guo Fan!

The other was Wei Lai!

Guo Fan was his protégé, so naturally, Zhao Xiaotang would watch his development closely.

Wei Lai, on the other hand, was appointed by Old Chen.

Dig deeper!

In truth, up to now, Zhao Xiaotang wasn’t exactly sure what or how to dig.

But he understood this match would reveal something.

Beep!

With the whistle, the match began.

The Red Team kicked off first, while the Blue Team quickly pressed forward to apply pressure.

In this fast-paced environment, youth training also emphasized this style of match practice.

The Blue Team charged aggressively. Wei Lai pressed forward with the team’s rhythm, but then his steps suddenly stopped.

Coach Tiebing had said to watch the opponent’s main midfielder, the player who distributes the ball.

His observations were often linked to offensive intent!

And since just now, that Red Team player Mao Ning, while facing away, had turned his head three times to look toward his left side.

“Hold the defensive line!”

Wei Lai shouted sharply.

Mao Biao and the others pushing forward immediately stopped, looking at Wei Lai in confusion.

Wei Lai turned to the left back.

“Xuri! Mark Guo Fan tightly. If he turns, pull him back immediately!”

Left back Zhu Xuri was puzzled, but he noticed Guo Fan was indeed preparing to turn.

He quickly reached out to grab him but was still a step too slow. Guo Fan slipped away like an eel.

“Haha! You can’t hold me!”

Guo Fan instantly accelerated. At the same time, Mao Ning sent a long pass directly to the space behind.

“Fall back! Fall back!”

Mao Biao shouted anxiously.

As a central defender, he knew how dangerous it was to let Guo Fan appear in open space.

Zhu Xuri also sprinted back with all his might, regretting not having held Guo Fan earlier.

At this moment, Wei Lai’s voice rang out again.

“Occupy the inside, force him to the flank, don’t let him cut inside!”

“Mao, watch the sweeping pass!”

“Hao Ren, watch the inverted triangle!”

After issuing three defensive commands in quick succession, Wei Lai immediately dashed toward the flank.

He still remembered Casemiro’s teachings.

Drive them out! Apply pressure!

“Xuri, don’t reach out with your foot, hold the inside line!”

Wei Lai ran while reminding him.

Zhu Xuri kept a close eye on Guo Fan, afraid he would overtake him on the outside.

Guo Fan grew anxious. Usually reckless, Zhu Xuri had strangely stopped trying to tackle.

He looked up toward the center.

Mao Biao was covering the sweeping pass area.

Mao Ning was stuck by Hao Ren at the inverted triangle position.

Most importantly, Wei Lai was running in just the right direction to block the inverted triangle zone.

“Damn it!”

Guo Fan gritted his teeth, planning to go solo.

He suddenly stepped forward with a feint, pulling the ball to create distance.

Once the gap opened, even if he tried to circle from behind, he was confident Zhu Xuri couldn’t match his burst of speed.

Just as he confidently prepared to dribble past, a tackle...

Bang!

Guo Fan felt a sharp sting on his nose!

It was like crashing into a wall!

Wei Lai didn’t even look at Guo Fan as he snatched the ball away, turned his back, and used his body to block him. He then passed the ball steadily to Zhao Jun, who was ready to receive.

“Great defense!”

Mao Biao shook his head and gave a thumbs-up.

The opponent’s sudden attack was strangled on the flank, which was very good news for him.

“Counterattack! Counterattack! Counterattack!”

The Blue Team shouted, rallying for a counter.

On the sidelines, Zhao Xiaotang clicked the pen cap repeatedly.

He tilted his head slightly...

“Do they really have such strong defensive coordination?”

Mao Biao occupied the sweeping pass zone.

Hao Ren interfered with Mao Ning.

And under Wei Lai’s positioning, the passing lanes for the inverted triangle were disrupted.

Guo Fan was forced to the sideline...

Hmm...

More accurately, he was ‘driven’ into the corner.

This was not a subconscious defensive reaction but a deliberately created scenario.

Like herding sheep into a pen, step by step driving them in.

Finally, snapping the gate shut.

“Who’s responsible for closing the gate?”

Zhao Xiaotang looked at Wei Lai.

Clearly, Wei Lai was the one tasked with shutting the gate.

Moreover, the entire defensive process was orchestrated by Wei Lai.

“Driving + tactical coordinated defense...” Zhao Xiaotang pursed his lips. “Is this luck, or intentional?”

Would something this advanced really appear in a B-level youth team?

Zhao Xiaotang planned to keep observing...