Adrian Vandenberg arrived at the training ground early, holding a technical analysis report on Würzburger Kickers.
As a newcomer to the 2.
Bundesliga, Würzburger Kickers were known for their counter-attacking defense; their wing breakthrough capabilities and efficient set-piece tactics left a deep impression on Adrian Vandenberg.
Facing this opponent, Adrian Vandenberg knew that relying solely on previous tactics wouldn’t be enough to achieve total suppression.
He opened the FM System in the tactical room and used the opponent database for simulation.
This was the first time Adrian Vandenberg had used this feature of the system; he had only recently remembered it.
The main lineup and common tactical layouts of Würzburger Kickers were presented one by one on the system screen, and their match data from previous years was also displayed digitally.
Adrian Vandenberg carefully observed the opponent’s characteristics, especially their flank offensive efficiency and central defensive tightness.
The system data showed they were accustomed to using a compact defensive formation, heavily deploying troops at the top of the penalty arc and the half-spaces, while looking for offensive opportunities through quick counter-attacks.
Next, Adrian Vandenberg accurately adjusted the simulation parameters, input his team’s current lineup status and player data, and set up a simulated match.
The opponent’s strengths were indeed fully exposed; Würzburger Kickers’ two wide midfielders repeatedly threatened the penalty area through quick passing and cutting inside.
Their concise passing and high-speed positioning in counter-attacks posed a threat in almost every transition between offense and defense.
“Their wing breakthroughs and counter-attacks are very lethal,” Adrian Vandenberg muttered to himself.
“To win this match, we must find a way to cut off their passing lines and limit the speed advantage of their wing players.” He performed several more formation adjustments and simulated matches, finally designing a set of tactics he was satisfied with.
Adrian Vandenberg made targeted adjustments based on the simulation results, focusing on reinforcing the defensive end while optimizing offensive tactics to seek a breakthrough.
After today’s training began, Adrian Vandenberg gathered the players in front of the tactical board and began to explain the new deployment in detail.
Early in the morning, the players had already assembled, standing in a neat line.
“Listen up, everyone!
For the next match, we’ll still use the 4-2-3-1 formation,” Adrian Vandenberg circled the layout of the midfield and backline on the board with a tactical pen.
“But this time, we need to make some adjustments to the defensive zones.
Our double pivots in midfield—one will push Forward slightly, and one will drop back, forming a double-layered barrier.
Michael, your task is to drop back to protect the defense and keep an eye on their number 9.
Rodney, you need to step up and challenge in the middle at the right time to cut off the connection between their number 10 and the wingers.
Witek and Jan, you need to mark their wing players closely, forcing them to pass back or cut inside into crowded areas.” “During the match, the key is to limit their breakthroughs in the half-spaces,” Adrian Vandenberg emphasized.
“The quality of the opponent’s crosses is very high; if we let them pass comfortably, we’ll be on the defensive.
So, you must pressure their players on the wings to deny them comfortable passing space.” Saša raised his hand nearby and asked, “Coach, what if they cut inside?
Do we need a defensive midfielder to follow and cover?” Adrian Vandenberg nodded: “Exactly.
Michael will immediately cover the top of the penalty arc.
The two center-backs will compress the defensive line appropriately but must maintain horizontal distance to avoid leaving gaps in the middle of the box.
We need to form a ‘5+2′ pattern in defense, with the backline and the double pivots jointly blocking the center, while the wingers on both sides track back quickly to provide width protection.” He continued.
“As for the offense, we need to exploit the weakness of their compact formation.” “Also, the opponent’s wing defense relies heavily on the tracking speed of their overall formation, so we need to play fast and try to tear open the defense with one-touch passing.” Adrian Vandenberg turned his gaze toward the two wide midfielders.
“Florian, your task is to stretch the width of the wings, draw the opponent’s defensive attention, and then look for opportunities to reach the byline or make a cut-back cross.
And Stefan, you can cut inside more often, coordinating with the midfield to form triangular combinations and deliver the ball to the edge of the penalty area.” Adrian Vandenberg drew several passing lines on the board with the tactical pen.
“Our key is midfield possession.
Daniel, you need to take on the task of organizing the attack, using short passes and ball rotations to stretch the opponent’s defense.
If you find their defensive midfielders are sitting deep, you can try to send through balls into the box to create chances for Saša.” Saša smiled expectantly upon hearing his name.
“Coach, can I try to make more runs to the far post?” Adrian Vandenberg nodded and said.
“Of course, your experience and instincts are our weapons.
I hope you can exploit their defense’s lack of flexibility to find gaps.
Once an opportunity arises, don’t hesitate—shoot immediately.” After the tactical explanation, Adrian Vandenberg organized a simulated scrimmage against Würzburger Kickers.
He arranged for the substitute team to simulate the opponent’s tactics, requiring them to strengthen wing breakthroughs and quick counter-attacks, while the main team practiced defensive and offensive drills according to the new tactics.
On the training ground, Florian broke through quickly after receiving a pass on the wing, but faced with a double-team from two substitute defenders, he seemed a bit hesitant.
Adrian Vandenberg immediately stopped the training and shouted a reminder: “Florian, don’t hesitate!
Remember, we need to play fast—one-touch passes, or cut inside directly!
Put pressure on them!” Then, he walked over to Florian and patted him on the shoulder.
“Don’t be afraid of making mistakes, Florian.
This is the training ground; it’s the place for you to try things boldly.” On the other side, defensive midfielder Michael was positioned too high during an interception attempt, allowing the opposing midfield to easily send a through ball.
The ball rolled rapidly toward the substitute Forward, creating a dangerous situation.
Adrian Vandenberg frowned slightly and blew the whistle to stop.
“Michael, remember your duty!
Your position is a barrier, not to steal the spotlight.
If you’re positioned too far Forward, the defense will be exposed.” Michael nodded and apologized repeatedly: “Sorry, Coach, I’ll pay attention next time.” Just like that, they spent the entire day adapting to the new tactics.
In fact, they weren’t much different from the original tactics, just some targeted fine-tuning.
At the end of training, Adrian Vandenberg gathered the players at the center circle and said with a firm tone.
“Everyone performed well with today’s adjustments, but we still need to get more familiar with them.
We are about to face a team that is good at defending.
To win the match, you must be 100% focused.
Remember, a match is a contest of eleven people; every detail can determine the outcome.” The players responded in unison, their faces filled with confidence and fighting spirit.
Adrian Vandenberg smiled slightly and nodded with satisfaction: “Very good.
We’ll review the tactics again tomorrow.
You can all go back and rest now.” This time, there were only four training days, and they passed quickly.
As night fell, Würzburg Stadium was illuminated as if it were day.
Though this small city stadium wasn’t as grand as those of top giants, it was filled with passion.
The atmosphere of the German Cup ignited the place, with the red and white flags of the home team fluttering in the stands, accompanied by the synchronized singing of the Würzburg fans.
“Würzburg!
Victory belongs to us!” Their shouts were deafening, creating an invisible sense of pressure.
When Adrian Vandenberg walked out of the player tunnel, a sea of people was before him.
He put his hands in his pockets, his gaze sweeping over his players, then toward the flags and banners in the home fans’ section.
The Assistant Coach beside him whispered, “The home atmosphere is really intense.” Adrian Vandenberg just nodded slightly and replied calmly, “Well, we didn’t come here with good intentions.” The match was about to begin, and reporters and cameramen on the sidelines were busy adjusting their equipment.
The SKY Germany lens focused on Adrian Vandenberg, and the commentator said with an excited tone.
“This is Adrian Vandenberg’s first German Cup match leading Munich 1860.
Facing the strong home side Würzburger Kickers, can our young head Adrian Vandenberg lead the team to show their style?
Achieving good results in the cup debut.
Let’s wait and see.” In the stands, although the Munich 1860 fans weren’t many, the blue and white team flags and cheers were still very prominent.
A white-haired Munich veteran fan pulled the arm of the young man next to him, his face showing a bit of pride: “Look, this is our team’s spirit.
Even away from home, we sing our own songs!” The young man smiled and waved the scarf in his hand, shouting: “1860!
We are with you!” It was tense off the field and even hotter on it.
The whistle blew, and the match officially began.
Würzburger Kickers used their home momentum to launch a quick offensive, with Forward Brentz pressing to the edge of the penalty area in less than three minutes.
His forced breakthrough was steadily neutralized by Munich 1860 defender Hermann, who then sent a long pass directly to the frontcourt.
The commentator immediately remarked: “That ball was delivered perfectly!
Munich 1860 wants to counter-attack, but Würzburg’s defense is retreating very quickly.” Adrian Vandenberg stood on the sidelines with his arms crossed, his eyes fixed on the pitch.
He occasionally whispered instructions to the Assistant Coach: “Watch the gaps on the wings; Stefan needs to be a bit more proactive.” The Assistant Coach nodded and immediately ran to the touchline to shout instructions.
After receiving the signal, Stefan adjusted his positioning immediately; his movement became more active as he started looking for gaps.
In the 12th minute, a small climax occurred on the field.
After receiving a pass from the backfield, Stefan advanced quickly down the right wing.
He didn’t panic in the face of the opponent’s defender marking him closely; instead, he nimbly changed directions several times, opening a narrow breakthrough path.
Then, he glanced at the penalty area and swept the ball accurately into the middle.
The ball passed under the feet of two defenders and found Florian, who was charging in at high speed.
“Beautiful pass!
Here’s the chance; let’s see how Florian handles it!” The commentator’s voice suddenly rose.
Florian received Stefan’s exquisite through ball on the left side of the frontcourt.
He used a clever touch to shake off the defender, then shot immediately.
The ball carved a beautiful arc in the air and flew straight into the far corner of the goal!
The away fans’ section instantly erupted in deafening cheers; this goal was of high difficulty!
“Tor!
Tor!
Wahnsinn!” A female fan in the stands raised her hands, so excited she almost jumped out of her seat.
After a brief silence in the stands, the blue and white fans’ section instantly erupted in massive cheers.
“Goal!!!” A Munich fan jumped up from his seat, vigorously waving the scarf in his hand.
“Florian’s progress in these few matches is so obvious!” A friend nearby echoed loudly.
On the sidelines, the corners of Adrian Vandenberg’s mouth curled up slightly, and then he clapped vigorously, shouting: “Keep it up!
Remember what I told you!” Florian turned back and gave him a thumbs-up, while Stefan ran to his teammate and bumped shoulders to celebrate, the two of them smiling at each other.
In contrast, for the Würzburg fans, many people’s expressions turned from excitement to disappointment.
A young man wearing a red and white scarf said indignantly to the person next to him.
“How could our defense let them in so easily?” His companion patted him on the shoulder: “Relax, buddy, this is our home; we can definitely get it back.” After the match restarted, Würzburg tried to suppress Munich 1860’s possession rhythm with high-intensity pressing, but Adrian Vandenberg was clearly prepared.
Würzburg’s midfield general Leis consistently orchestrated his teammates calmly, neutralizing the opponent’s pressure through quick short passes.
In the 30th minute, Würzburg finally created a threatening attack.
Their midfielder Rubin, after receiving a through pass outside the penalty area, suddenly took a long shot.
The ball, with a strong spin, headed straight for the corner of the goal.
The whole stadium held its breath, but Munich 1860 goalkeeper Ortmann leaped high and tipped the ball over the crossbar with his fingertips.
The Munich fans in the stands immediately erupted in thunderous applause, while the Würzburg supporters let out a collective sigh.
Munich 1860’s offensive rhythm gradually became smoother, and the atmosphere on the field grew increasingly tense.
In the stands, the cheers of the away fans rose and fell; they waved blue and white scarves and sang the team song loudly.
“Sechzig!
Sechzig!
Kämpfen und Siegen!” A bearded middle-aged fan stood in the front row, occasionally punching the air and shouting at the players on the field: “Keep pressing!
Florian, go a bit further Forward!” The young man behind him held a phone, busy filming a video to post on social media with the text: “We scored, the dominance of 1860!” Meanwhile, the home Würzburg fans appeared anxious.
A few young men in red and white jerseys sat in the middle of the stands, one of them muttering: “Our midfield is completely suppressed by them; when will the coach make a substitution?” Another person patted his shoulder to comfort him: “Don’t worry, there’s still a chance for a counter-attack.” Just as he finished speaking, a seven or eight-year-old girl beside them suddenly cried out in excitement: “Daddy!
Look, that goalkeeper over there is amazing!” It turned out that Munich 1860’s goalkeeper had saved a long shot that seemed destined for the goal.
“Great save, Zimmermann!!!
Defense, don’t slack off; hold on through the first half, you must maintain this!!!” Adrian Vandenberg shouted loudly.
As the end of the first half approached, both sides’ stamina began to decline, but the tackling on the field remained intense.
Adrian Vandenberg stood on the sidelines, observing the situation while issuing orders.
“Backline, don’t push too far Forward!
Maintaining the score is the most important thing.” In the end, 1860’s backline tenaciously held onto the first-half advantage; Würzburg gained no ground.
As the referee blew the whistle for the end of the half, Munich 1860 led 1-0 for the time being, and the players filed into the dressing room.
— T/N: Today completed the first 10 chapters, I will try to maintain the rythm till 50 chapters to set up a good amount of words for readers to gain a certain amount of interest.
Well Donate Power Stones as well for my work on translation and editing.