After the team’s daily training session ended, Adrian Vandenberg stood by the edge of the training ground as usual, watching the players leave one after another.
Today’s training intensity wasn’t low; the players had completed a series of explosive power and speed exercises under the direction of the fitness coach.
But just as he was about to leave, his gaze suddenly fell upon two players still doing extra individual training in the center of the pitch: midfielder Florian and winger Stefan.
Florian was continuing his rapid passing drills.
His footwork was getting better and better; with these past few days of extra training, his technical finesse was much improved compared to before.
Stefan, meanwhile, was utilizing his speed and explosiveness to repeatedly sprint down the flank to coordinate with Florian’s passes.
This was simulating a real-match scenario of shaking off an opponent and quickly crossing from the byline.
Their coordination seemed simple, but they had successfully completed it many times on the training ground.
“Interesting,” Adrian Vandenberg muttered, his brow furrowing slightly as his mind raced.
His thoughts were becoming clearer and clearer.
Florian could hold the ball in midfield and distribute it quickly; in particular, his precise long balls and decent vision could create more opportunities for Stefan’s flank sprints.
If this tactical combination could be fully utilized in a match, the team’s offense would become much sharper.
Adrian Vandenberg opened the system interface.
Within the interface, he set new tactical instructions for the two of them.
In the system, he named it ‘Diagonal Thrust Raid.’ By having Florian organize the attack from midfield, using quick passes to draw in the opposition’s defense, they would then quickly play a long ball to the flank at the critical moment for Stefan to take the opportunity to sprint and break through the defensive line.
This tactic required not only Florian’s precise passing and trapping but also a perfect combination of Stefan’s speed and rhythm.
“Excellent, Florian, Stefan!
That trap was perfect,” Adrian Vandenberg applauded while watching.
“Coach, you haven’t gone back yet?” Stefan asked, hearing Adrian Vandenberg’s words of encouragement.
“A good coach is always the last one to leave the training ground.
If you haven’t gone back yet, I certainly can’t.” The two young men laughed and scratched their heads upon hearing Adrian Vandenberg’s words.
In fact, Adrian Vandenberg was the only true ‘young man’ among the three of them.
“Your combination is very suitable as part of our high press.
Florian, your trapping has clearly improved recently.
Stefan, your speed has also increased quite a bit.
I believe that if you maintain this focused state, the possibility of us achieving good results this season will be very high.” He was not stingy with his praise for their performance.
“Thank you, Coach.
Is there anything else we need to pay attention to with this combination?” Stefan asked.
“Yes.
In future training, you need to reach the point where you know where the ball is coming from without even looking.
You won’t just be the two of you practicing on the pitch; the opponents won’t be standing idle.
You need to constantly improve your level of understanding…” Adrian Vandenberg chatted with the two as they walked, and the three of them headed back together.
…
The next morning, Adrian Vandenberg gathered the coaching staff in the tactical meeting room.
The team’s tactical board hung on the wall, already covered in several new tactical diagrams.
“I want to try something new today,” Adrian Vandenberg said to the assistant coaches, standing before the tactical board.
“I’ve studied the match footage many times, and I’ve noticed that the coordination between Florian and Stefan has great potential.
We can try to explore it further in the upcoming training sessions.” “What do you plan to do?” Assistant Coach Heiko asked with a hint of curiosity.
“I call it the ‘Diagonal Thrust Raid’,” Adrian Vandenberg said, pointing to the tactical board.
“The key to this tactic is that Stefan needs to use his speed and vision to create attacking opportunities for Florian on the flank.
His passing must be fast and disguised, giving the opposing defenders no time to react, while Florian needs to explode the moment he receives the ball, using his speed to sprint directly through the opponent’s defensive line.” “That sounds good,” fitness coach Max Wolf said, nodding.
“But can these kids’ stamina guarantee it?
Stefan’s sprints require sufficient explosive power, and continuous flank attacks will consume a lot of his energy.” “That’s why I’ve been increasing their physical training, not just running.
Besides, Heiko has indeed provided me with a lot of useful suggestions and help lately.” As Adrian Vandenberg spoke, he cast a friendly glance at Heiko.
“It’s nothing, Coach.
It’s what I should do.
Besides that, are there any other requirements?” Heiko asked.
“One more thing is physical recovery.
In future training sessions, massage will become a part of every player’s recovery routine, rather than just a training reward.
I will discuss this with the management,” Adrian Vandenberg said.
The content of the first meeting wasn’t too much.
After everyone summarized the meeting notes and recorded the parts they needed to pay attention to, the meeting concluded successfully.
Over the next few days of training, Adrian Vandenberg personally supervised Florian and Stefan’s practice.
The item he had drawn earlier, the ‘Sané Explosive Sprint Training Pack,’ came in handy now.
As a useful skill for shaking off markers and fitting Stefan’s position, this skill was very practical.
During the training process, Adrian Vandenberg unreservedly explained and demonstrated Sané’s technical points to the two of them.
Because the training content was produced by the system, he had already mastered the skill insights.
Thus, every demonstration by Adrian Vandenberg was perfect; even if Sané himself had come, he wouldn’t have been able to find any faults.
Florian and Stefan also understood it quite thoroughly.
This training required them to complete multiple high-speed sprints in a short period and required them to maintain high focus when receiving, especially Florian, who had to keep an eye on Stefan’s passes at all times.
“Stefan, watch your rhythm!
You need to be like a spring, going from static to explosive, hitting full speed in an instant.
Don’t hesitate.
Remember, your explosive sprint comes from muscle memory, not your brain!
Thinking will only leave you full of openings!” Adrian Vandenberg shouted loudly from the sidelines.
“Yes, Coach!” Under Adrian Vandenberg’s encouragement, Stefan explored and learned time and again, becoming increasingly proficient.
During Florian’s training, Adrian Vandenberg helped him simulate various high-pressure match scenarios, training his ability to precisely trap and distribute the ball while being double-teamed.
The ‘Standard Anti-Press’ training pack provided by the system was put to use here.
Although this training pack was only a white-tier item with nothing particularly fancy, it was perfect for Florian, who was currently in his growth phase.
The previous coach hadn’t prioritized developing his breakthrough abilities, so Florian’s technical stats hadn’t been triggered.
Now, with the corresponding training content, Florian’s relevant stats would see some improvement.
Adrian Vandenberg assigned several players to constantly change their defensive positioning and interception methods, forcing Florian to find the best passing lane in an extremely short time.
Low-level anti-press training focuses on breakthrough ability; high-level anti-press training focuses on mind games, deception, and match-reading ability.
At first, Florian wasn’t used to it, and several of his passes were intercepted by other players.
In all the matches Florian had played before, he had rarely faced multiple markers, so he didn’t have much experience dealing with such problems.
“Florian, head up!
Don’t just stare at the ball at your feet.
Learn to anticipate the situation around you.
Right now, everything in front of you is a maze, and you need to find the exit in the shortest time possible!” Adrian Vandenberg reminded him from time to time, keeping Florian’s judgment sharp in high-pressure environments.
“Yes, Coach!” Florian shouted tensely, quickening his footwork.
…
Just like that, after two or three days of targeted training, the two players gradually became much more familiar with the coordination of the new combination.
Stefan gradually mastered the technique of explosive starts, becoming able to accurately grasp the timing of Florian’s passes.
And Florian was much calmer when holding the ball than before; he could now accurately distribute the ball even when surrounded by three players, with an extremely high success rate.
The tactical training for the rest of the players wasn’t neglected either.
Adrian Vandenberg shuffled and regrouped them many times, finally settling on three 4-2-3-1 formations that performed relatively stably.
This was preparation for backup lineups for future matches.
Although he had system assistance, he couldn’t guarantee that all players would remain injury-free throughout the season.
Once injuries occurred, he would have to deploy new personnel combinations.
Now, in addition to the Saša and Florian duo, Munich 1860 had another combination: the Florian and Stefan duo.
“First training session for the new combination detected.
Would you like to activate the Legendary Quests?” The system’s voice echoed in Adrian Vandenberg’s mind.
Legendary Quests?
Adrian Vandenberg didn’t remember FM having this feature; perhaps it was a new addition.
“Activate.” Adrian Vandenberg’s eyes lit up as he entered the system interface in his mind.
It was the same familiar UI, but it now displayed two large characters: Legendary Quest.
“Introduce this interface to me.” The system buffered for a moment before speaking.
“This module is the Legendary Quest module.
The quests listed here are highly challenging achievements never before reached in football history.
Each quest revolves around a specific player, Club, national team, or the host himself, aimed at achieving their glory.” “Legendary Quest levels vary, as do the rewards.
These quests will not only test your coaching abilities but will also bring the host unprecedented rewards.” A list of quests gradually appeared on the interface.
Accompanied by the system’s explanation, Adrian Vandenberg scrolled through them from bottom to top.
The Legendary Quests at the very bottom were gray, while the ones at the top were bright gold.
The brighter the color, the greater the difficulty.
Currently, the only Legendary Quest he could accept was this one.
[Munich 1860’s German Cup] – The quest difficulty was Blue level.
System Description: This is the only Legendary Quest the host can currently accept.
Lead Munich 1860 back to the top and win the German Cup once again.
This will not only greatly enhance the Club’s reputation but also allow you to make a splash in the domestic League, significantly boosting your prestige.
Quest Rewards: +3 to any two coaching attributes, +3 to any four player attributes, 10x Perfect Quality Training Packs, 5x Perfect Quality items or skills.
Curious, Adrian Vandenberg scrolled up further to look at the other quests.
Legendary Quest: [Neymar’s Ballon d’Or Dream] System Description: This has been the expectation of Neymar’s fans for many years.
It is no easy feat to have Neymar crowned with football’s highest individual honor.
However, if you can lead him to produce an unprecedented performance, the Ballon d’Or is not impossible.
Quest Rewards: 3x Brazil National Team Player Legendary Training Packs (selectable content), Host’s Shooting, Ball Control, and Free Kick attributes increased to maximum (if already maxed, choose any other three non-maxed attributes; if all are maxed, choose 3x training packs from any top ten world-ranked national team), 3x Peak Neymar Experience Cards (Host only, usable in real matches).
Legendary Quest: [The Gunners’ Revival: Ending Arsenal’s Trophy Drought] System Description: The host leads Arsenal to break a League title drought of over 10 years, restoring the glory of the “Gunners.” Quest Rewards: “Invincible Glory of the Emirates” (Arsenal home player morale significantly increased, performance +5% against strong teams, enemy confidence decreases to a certain extent when playing at the Emirates Stadium), Legendary “Henry’s Killer Instinct” Training Pack, Legendary “Vieira’s Iron Will” Training Pack, Legendary “Bergkamp’s Enhanced Vision” Training Pack, 5x Perfect Quality items or skills.
Legendary Quest: [Youth Storm] System Description: The host must manage a Club in one of the five major leagues and lead at least 5 youth team players developed by that Club into the first team as starters.
Each youth player must play in at least half of the matches in the current season, and the host must win the League title within three years.
Quest Rewards: 5x Youth Player Growth Acceleration Cards (increases the growth rate of all youth players by 20% for the next season), 5x Future Star Attribute Cards (can be given to any youth player to increase growth speed by 30%, stackable with the acceleration card effect).
Seeing this, Adrian Vandenberg was stunned and exclaimed.
“My god, that’s a 50% growth rate.
If both are used on one youth player, that kid is probably going to take off.” He continued to scroll through the interface.
Legendary Quest: [Slaughtering Bayern] System Description: Face Bayern Munich at home or away and keep a clean sheet while winning by at least a three-goal margin to earn immense reputation for the team.
Given that the host is currently the head coach of Munich 1860 and there is a vast disparity in strength compared to Bayern Munich, along with the [Munich Derby] status, the rewards for this quest will be doubled.
Home victory rewards are 2x, and away victory rewards are 3x.
(Given that the host currently shares the same home stadium with Bayern, the rewards for this quest follow the maximum reward principle).
Quest Rewards: +3 to any 2 coaching attributes, +3 to any 2 player attributes; 5x Perfect level items or skills, obtain Legendary Training Pack “Müller’s Goal-scoring Instinct,” Legendary Training Pack “Lewandowski’s Perfect Shooting,” Legendary Training Pack “Robben’s God-like Cut-in,” and 1x Peak Experience Card for any Bayern Munich starting player as of this season (Host only, usable in real matches).
“Holy…
I’m really drooling over these rewards.” Adrian Vandenberg looked at the quest rewards and couldn’t help but gulp.
“System, if I defeat other giant teams in the German Cup later, but it’s not a clean sheet or a blowout, will there be rewards?” Adrian Vandenberg asked.
The system replied: “Yes.
When the host’s team strength is vastly different from any opponent, successfully defeating them will earn the [Giant Killer] achievement reward.” “And the reward content?” “Similar to the above, but not doubled.
You can choose to increase 1 coaching or player attribute, 1 Legendary Training Pack, and 1 Peak Player Experience Card from the opposing Club.” “Understood.” Adrian Vandenberg continued to scroll to the very top of the interface, and after one look, he couldn’t keep it together.
Highest Level Legendary Quest: [Lead the Belgian National Team to win the world cup trophy] Quest Rewards: All Legendary Coach attributes, All Legendary Player attributes, 23x Global Peak Player Legendary Training Packs, 11x Legendary items or skills.
Sure enough, no matter which dimension it was, helping the national team win the world cup trophy was always a legendary-level difficulty task.
Adrian Vandenberg frowned slightly; he had one more question.
“System, what do you mean by the ‘player attributes’ you just mentioned?
As a coach, how can I have player attributes?” The system answered.
“To enhance the host’s gaming experience and training efficiency, we have simultaneously activated ‘Player Mode’ for you.
During matches, you can personally take the field and participate as a player.
This will not only deepen your understanding of tactics but also directly motivate the team.
In other words, the host is not just a coach; you can also become a member on the field, fighting alongside your players.” Adrian Vandenberg suddenly remembered that when he played FM before, he had indeed encountered people who were both players and coaches; he had thought it was a bug at the time.
Unable to resist his curiosity, he opened his own player attribute interface.
Lines of attribute data appeared before his eyes on the familiar UI interface, clearly listing his various ability values.
“Pace: 8 Stamina: 8 Passing: 9 Shooting: 11 Defending: 6 Ball Control: 10 Decisions: 11 Vision: 13 Teamwork: 16 Bravery: 14 …” These values were clearly far from excellent, but in the 2.
Bundesliga, he could barely manage as a substitute, especially with Vision and Teamwork values significantly above average.
These two values were so high because of Adrian Vandenberg’s coaching attributes.
The system added: “These initial attributes are set based on the host’s personality and decision-making abilities.
As you complete quests, especially Legendary Quests, your attribute values will gradually increase, and you will slowly gain more player skills and specialties.
In particular, the ‘Peak Player Experience Cards’ will allow you to possess the abilities of top-tier football players when you participate in matches.” “Understood.
I can be both the coach and a player.
That’s quite interesting.” — T/N: Donate Power Stone.