This Is What Training Can Achieve!

This Is What Training Can Achieve! Today was endurance day for the first team, and Mitchell van der Gaag had arranged ten 100-meter shuttle runs for the players.

A total running distance of two kilometers was hardly difficult for Dutch Eredivisie players.

However, Mitchell van der Gaag had requirements for their speed. Anyone who ran too slowly would have to make up for it with another five 100-meter shuttle runs.

"Run! Keep running!"

When Tang Ye passed in front of him, Erik ten Hag shouted at him a few times, startling Tang Ye into quickly accelerating forward.

Glancing at his watch, Erik ten Hag said to Mitchell van der Gaag beside him, "Actually, this kid's stamina isn't as bad as we imagined. He just thinks he can't run anymore."

Erik ten Hag was right. Although Tang Ye liked to slack off, he was only sixteen after all. No matter what, he could run better than those players in their thirties.

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

Mitchell van der Gaag smiled.

Putting so much focus on a player who was only sixteen.

Erik ten Hag clearly intended to make use of Tang Ye!

"I think I can develop him into a decent midfielder, but not yet."

Erik ten Hag watched Tang Ye running on the pitch and said seriously, "Maybe in two years. Or three."

"Oh, right, Erik."

Mitchell van der Gaag remembered that he had something to tell Erik ten Hag. "The board said that failing to sign a possession-based midfielder in the summer window was their mistake, so our target for this season will be a little lower."

"We finished tenth last season. This season, we only need to make sure we finish in the top twelve. They'll find a way to get you the midfielder you want in the winter window."

Although Utrecht's board never seemed to do any real work, they were fairly understanding toward Erik ten Hag.

The board could see that, based on Utrecht's form in their first four league matches, even avoiding relegation would be a problem this season.

The worst-case scenario would be the first team dropping into the Eerste Divisie, with the reserves forced to follow them down into the third tier.

"Top twelve..."

Erik ten Hag muttered.

This was the top football league in the Netherlands. Even finishing in the top twelve was difficult as hell!...

September 13th, Round 5 of the Dutch Eredivisie.

"Welcome back, brothers and friends! It's finally time for another Utrecht match!"

Wang Chao had found a stream. On the screen, the starting players of both teams were still preparing in the tunnel.

As expected, whenever Wang Chao streamed a Utrecht match, his viewer count was at least double what it usually was.

That was Lucky Bro's influence!

A conservative faction had now emerged in the Huanledou community, and these conservatives were all loyal followers of Lucky Bro.

If whether you got a foot wash tonight depended on the team's overall performance...

Then whether you could extend the session, and by how many rounds, depended on Lucky Bro's performance!

Good news: Tang Ye was in the matchday squad!

Either draw the first half and win the second, or lose the first half and win the second. Just bet on those two, then sit back and wait for Lucky Bro to score a winner.

I have a question. Why does Tang Ye always play so well in the second half? What about the first half?

Idiot, Tang Ye sits on the bench in the first half. How is he supposed to score from the bench?

The match began. Facing Vitesse, Erik ten Hag once again brought out his trademark 5-3-2.

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

"We can boldly guess that Tang Ye will get more chances in today's match."

Just as streamer Wang Chao had said, Tang Ye began warming up as early as the 30th minute.

His substitute performances in the previous two matches had earned Tang Ye Erik ten Hag's trust.

Today, he would get more opportunities!

The first half ended with Utrecht, playing at home, trailing 0-1. The fans in the stands were growing anxious.

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

The Chinese fans were already losing their minds, but the Dutch official commentators were utterly puzzled by Erik ten Hag's substitution.

"Erik is bringing on a sixteen-year-old youngster while trailing. What does this mean?"

"Utrecht are underestimating their opponents!"

"They will pay the price for it!"

Clap! Clap!

After high-fiving his teammates, Tang Ye ran onto the pitch chewing gum, then followed Erik ten Hag's instructions and slipped a small white note into Ramselaar's hand.

The note contained the team's tactical instructions for the second half!

After bringing on Tang Ye and Amrabat, Utrecht deliberately dropped their attacking line deeper.

This was because Tang Ye did not have Janssen's pressing ability in the final third, so Utrecht had to play a little more cautiously.

In the 61st minute, Oliinyk played the ball to Nathan!

Nathan, one-on-one with Tang Ye on the right flank!

Nathan swayed his body! He threw out a feint!

Nathan powered past Tang Ye! "Damn it!"

Erik ten Hag cursed because he felt that Tang Ye had barely put in any effort during the entire defensive sequence, as if he had deliberately let Nathan go past him.

However, Tang Ye immediately began tracking back after being beaten.

He reached out and tugged Nathan's shirt, then suddenly went to ground after picking his moment.

Smack! Tang Ye completed a tackle on Nathan while sprinting! The tackle was extremely clever. Tang Ye had not simply cleared the ball away, but kept it close to himself.

He got up and carried the ball forward!

Two Vitesse attacking midfielders rushed toward him. Tang Ye was a little frightened, but the instant he got up, he had already scanned his teammates' positioning.

Facing the press, Tang Ye decisively played the ball! Smack! The ball flew toward the left flank as Haller ran forward while watching where it would drop.

He brought the ball under control!

A cross!

Balazhit!

A shot into the near post! "GOAAALLLLL!!!!!!"

"The ball is in! Balazhit scores, assisted by Haller! Utrecht have equalized!"

Balazhit and Haller embraced, then ran together toward the corner flag.

It was an equalizer, but Erik ten Hag's expression was extremely serious.

He was thinking.

Because Nathan had beaten Tang Ye, Vitesse's defensive line had pushed up. That was why Haller had been able to easily pass the ball to Balazhit's feet after bringing it under control.

It was simple in theory, but for a player to complete that entire chain of thought in such a high-intensity match...

That was basically impossible!

As Tang Ye ran toward the corner flag to celebrate, Erik ten Hag called him over and pretended to be angry as he asked, "Hey, why did you let number 13 get past you? Were you distracted?"

"I wasn't distracted."

Tang Ye was a little scared after Erik ten Hag scolded him. The normally laid-back kid immediately stood ramrod straight.

"No, number 13 was too fast. I couldn't stop him. It was more likely that I could win the ball back after letting him get past me."

"And..."

"And what?"

"And if he got past me, their defenders would be lured out, and then Haller would have a chance."

"..."

Erik ten Hag said nothing. Instead, he asked Tang Ye a question. "Do you know why you were able to think of all that?"

"This is training. Remember, this is what training can achieve!"

Tang Ye nodded repeatedly.

Erik ten Hag let out a breath.

It looked like this kid really believed him.

That was good!...