"John Terry, you need to move forward. Don't drift too far out wide! Hurry up!"
"Patrice Evra, watch your position, your position! When Florent Malouda pushes forward, you need to follow him and stay within twenty-five meters of him. Understand?"
"Keep up, keep up! Yes, when the team attacks, both the second and third waves must follow. Move like waves, understand? Do you know how waves move? Layer after layer, one after another, without stopping!"
"Alexander Hleb, don't push too far forward! When Malouda advances, you should drop back slightly. And you, Bosingwa, when Hleb drops back, you also need to retreat accordingly. Otherwise, when the opposition counterattacks, we'll have only two center-backs left behind!"
On the pitch, the first-team players had been divided into two sides for a training match. Mourinho continuously shouted instructions from the touchline, sometimes at one team and sometimes at the other. His booming voice could be heard from far away.
This wave-like movement was something Mourinho and Cassell were currently studying. It had evolved from Barcelona's staggered movement system, but it was more flexible and dynamic, which also made it more complex and difficult to execute.
For now, Mourinho's approach was to first establish the basic framework through simple off-the-ball movement, then gradually refine and perfect it.
How many years had it taken Cruyff to make Barcelona accept his ideas? How many years had it taken Eric Harrison to help Manchester United establish their off-the-ball movement system? New Manchester United would certainly need no less time to build their own system.
"He's New Manchester United's head coach, José Mourinho, a very capable Portuguese manager," Ethan explained when he noticed Kaká watching the first-team training with curiosity.
"Is your training always this intense?" Kaká asked.
Ethan smiled without answering. "But look, the tackles and physical challenges on the pitch are very fierce."
As he spoke, Juninho received the ball but was knocked off balance by Poulsen's physical challenge. He stumbled backward and fell to the ground.
"Football will demand increasingly high levels of both technical skill and physical strength in the future, especially in Europe. Do you know Denílson?"
"Of course. He's the most technically gifted player currently playing in Brazil!" Kaká said admiringly.
Denílson was a star who had also come through São Paulo.
"But he couldn't adapt to the pace and high-intensity physical challenges of European football. That's why he failed to succeed at Real Betis!"
After saying that, Ethan led Kaká toward the laboratory.
"You're a very talented player, Ricardo, a true genius, and your qualities are different from those of many Brazilian players. Your potential is limitless. The Brazilian league alone cannot satisfy a talent like yours. From now on, you must learn to adapt to the pace of European football and develop a strong physique capable of handling its physical demands."
Kaká followed behind Ethan, his heart surging with excitement. He had heard many things about Ethan from Messi and held great respect and gratitude toward him. Hearing Ethan assess him so highly left him flattered.
"Work hard, Ricardo. Before your father left Manchester, I promised him that I would take good care of you. I believe you'll receive the best possible care here in the coming months!"
...
After preseason training began, New Manchester United embarked on their long season.
Their first League Two match of the season was scheduled for August 5, when New Manchester United would travel to face Shrewsbury. A League Cup match would follow. Since the draw would not take place until July 7, New Manchester United did not yet know their first-round opponents, but the opposition was certain to be strong.
After the League Cup match, they would play another two away fixtures.
Their opponents would be Scunthorpe and Hartlepool, both difficult sides to face. For a club like New Manchester United, who had never competed in a professional league, beginning the season with three consecutive away matches would undoubtedly be a major test.
To prepare for the upcoming fixtures, New Manchester United arranged seven friendlies. Apart from one home match against Premier League side Everton, all the others would be away against clubs from higher divisions. However, their first friendly would be played at Droylsden's Butcher's Arms Ground.
Most of their opponents were also based in the Manchester area, since long-distance travel would consume club funds and disrupt the team's preparations.
With the squad having only recently been assembled, Mourinho continued to insist on training with the ball. He had Faria work with the laboratory to develop a ball-based fitness program. The plan was intended to improve the team's cohesion while building their fitness, allowing the players to develop an understanding more quickly.
From the training sessions over the following days, Ethan gradually formed an idea of Mourinho's preferred starting lineup.
His favored formation was Barcelona's customary 4-3-3. The center-forward position would alternate between Crouch and Kitson. Crouch had the advantage in height and possessed excellent technique, but his weakness was that he could not effectively serve as a target man in the box. Kitson was physically stronger, a powerful center-forward, and the most dominant player in the penalty area following Žigić's departure.
Malouda played on the left wing, while Hleb occupied the right. Ribéry and Wright-Phillips served as their respective backups. Ribéry was physically weak, and the laboratory had determined that he was not yet fit enough for competitive matches, so he was currently following a conditioning program. Although Wright-Phillips had performed well in training, he had not yet done enough to displace Hleb from the starting lineup.
The midfield trio consisted of Alou Diarra, Juninho, and Poulsen. The Brazilian dictated play from the center and frequently pushed forward during attacks, operating almost like an attacking midfielder. Alou Diarra played deepest, with Mourinho particularly valuing his height, while Poulsen provided protection for Juninho.
Essien, one of Ethan's favorite players, had lost his starting place. However, Ethan did not voice any objections because he knew Essien was not being cast aside. Mourinho simply believed that he still needed greater tactical discipline, especially because he often ignored tactical instructions during matches.
Young players always liked to prove themselves, and that was especially true of Essien, who had become a regular starter the previous season. He was even more eager to demonstrate his ability now, which provided both motivation and pressure. Therefore, Mourinho decided to use him as a substitute this season.
The back four, from left to right, consisted of Abidal, Terry, Distin, and Bosingwa, with Schmeichel in goal.
Although Evra had performed well the previous season and had been an undisputed starter, Mourinho believed his defending still had serious weaknesses, particularly his tendency to push too far forward, which made him unreliable defensively. Moreover, he was still young, while Abidal appeared more complete, offering a better balance between attack and defense. That naturally made him the first choice.
As for Bosingwa replacing Stansons, Ethan believed the former suited Mourinho's preferences better because he was more balanced in attack and defense. Stansons lacked pace, which clearly limited his ability to contribute down the flank. Mourinho even believed he was better suited to playing at center-back than in his current position at right-back.
Regarding the goalkeepers, Mourinho had made his position very clear. Unless Schmeichel was injured or unfit, he would be the team's undisputed starter because the outfield players were relatively young and needed him to organize and anchor the defense.
In addition to the 4-3-3, Mourinho also experimented several times with a 4-4-2 formation during training. Crouch or Kitson would usually partner either Olić or Palacio, creating the classic big-man-and-quick-striker combination commonly used by many English clubs.
The two wide midfielders remained unchanged, while Alou Diarra and Poulsen formed a double pivot in the center. The defensive line also remained largely the same.
From this tactical arrangement, it was clear that Mourinho was considering how the team should cope whenever Juninho was unavailable, since New Manchester United's current squad lacked another playmaker of his quality.
De Rossi was talented. After being converted from a forward into a defensive midfielder, he had shown some passing ability. However, he was still too young for Mourinho to entrust him with such a major responsibility. After all, this was professional League Two football, not the amateur divisions they had played in before.
Of course, starting in training matches did not necessarily mean a player would start in competitive fixtures. Mourinho had repeatedly made that clear during his conversations with the squad.
"There are no irreplaceable starters in my team. Any of you who want to play must show me your ability and fighting spirit in training and convince me. But once your performances in training, during matches, or away from the pitch become unacceptable, then I'm sorry, but you'll have to accept a place on the bench!"
Mourinho had made his position clear from his very first day in charge. Therefore, despite the intensity of the training, the players still gritted their teeth and persevered.
The laboratory deserved considerable credit. They required the club's masseurs to help the players relax and recover after every high-intensity session. Remarkably, despite Mourinho's punishing training regime, none of New Manchester United's players suffered an injury.
The only player who caused some concern was Ribéry. The Frenchman's physical condition was truly dreadful. Mourinho even had to temporarily withdraw him from first-team group training, sending him to work with the youth team while continuing his conditioning program.
Whenever Ethan saw Ribéry training with the youth team, he could not help shaking his head and sighing. There was a reason why so many late-blooming talents had been abandoned early in their professional careers.
Evra had pace but lacked technique and defensive ability. Although he had improved considerably over the previous two years, Mourinho still believed he had not yet reached the standard required of a regular starter in a professional league. This showed that Paris Saint-Germain had not released him simply because they lacked foresight.
The same reasoning applied to Ribéry. His body was too frail, and his stamina was far too poor. Other than a transmigrator like Ethan, who would give a player like Ribéry, someone who barely seemed capable of playing professional football, a chance? Who would pay him a salary while allowing him to slowly condition his body and gradually improve his fitness?
Strong calves weren't built in a day!
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)