Big Data Shows an 82.76% Threat Creation Rate for This Pass!

Having been with the Inter Milan youth team for five months, Tang Long had already become well-versed in the training routine.

Warm-ups, laps, passing, shooting...

The entire process took exactly one hour.

Recently, the head coach of the Inter Milan youth team had gone to UEFA for further studies, so today's training was being led by the youth team's assistant coach, Chivu.

This legendary player, who had won the treble with Inter Milan, had naturally joined the club's youth ranks after retiring, coaching from the U15 level all the way up to the U18 youth team as an assistant coach.

His primary focus today was to evaluate several players, including Tang Long, whose youth contracts were about to expire, to decide whether the club should offer them a renewal.

In Chivu's view, Tang Long was actually the most hardworking player in the entire Inter Milan youth team.

He held himself to strict standards in both training and daily life.

Perhaps it was because Chivu was from Eastern Europe!

He always hoped that Tang Long, coming from China, would perform well on the pitch and continue to stay with Inter Milan.

However, today Chivu stood on the sidelines with a tactical board in his hands and his hands behind his back.

Watching Tang Long pass, run laps, and shoot on the field, his performance in every aspect was mediocre!

He hadn't reached the team's average standard, and in some areas, he was even at the bottom.

Chivu couldn't help but hold his forehead and let out a soft sigh.

"Sigh, it seems that the sport of football still requires talent!"

"Even a player as hardworking as Tang, if he lacks talent, will find it difficult to reach the professional stage..."

Chivu knew very well.

There weren't many people on this Inter Milan U18 youth team who could play in top-tier professional leagues.

A few top prospects, such as Dimarco and others on the team, might be able to go on loan to a Serie A relegation-threatened team as rotation players.

Some others were only at the level of rotation players for lower-mid-table Serie B teams.

As for a player like Tang Long, he would either have to go to a lower-tier league to make a living, or he would likely have to retire directly, stepping away from the sport entirely.

That's how it is on the football pitch!

The success of one general is built on the bones of ten thousand!

Don't look only at how dazzling those big stars are under the global spotlight, for there are far more players behind the scenes who remain unknown.

Many bid farewell to the professional stage shortly after reaching adulthood, seeking other ways to make a living.

Watching Tang Long working so hard on the training ground, the Romanian Chivu couldn't help but feel puzzled!

He just couldn't figure it out.

"China clearly has 1.4 billion people, the largest population in the world; why can't they produce a single player capable of being a starter in the top five leagues? It's truly strange!"

(Chivu looked at Tang Long in confusion)

"Everyone, gather round!"

Chivu blew his whistle.

At this moment, Tang Long, drenched in sweat, knew his opportunity was coming!

What followed would be a 30-minute internal scrimmage, where the youth team would be divided into Team A and Team B to compete on the pitch.

According to the system's prompt, The first ability awakened by the Green Pitch Engine was Tang Long's judgment of passing lanes.

Tang Long knew that this skill could not be seen during routine training.

It could only be manifested in actual combat.

Team A put on the blue vests that symbolized the starters, While Tang Long received a yellow vest that symbolized the Team B substitutes.

"Work hard, lads. You are all 18 years old already. At your age, many talented players are already playing in Serie A. Please, don't waste any more time!"

Chivu said to everyone.

Tang Long looked up, And saw that Chivu's gaze was also fixed on him, A gaze filled with both pity and regret.

The internal training match began.

Tang Long could play as an attacking midfielder, a shadow striker, or a defensive midfielder, And he stood in his most familiar position: attacking midfielder.

In the Inter Milan Youth Academy, the polarization of players was quite severe, And Team A in the blue vests quickly began to crush Team B in the yellow vests.

Tang Long, who had been playing as the attacking midfielder for Team B, found it very difficult to get the ball.

This won't do. I must drop back, otherwise, I won't have a chance to perform if I can't get the ball!

Tang Long began to actively drop back into the defensive midfield position.

One minute later, Chivu, the head coach on the sidelines, keenly noticed the change in Tang Long's position.

"Tang, return to the position assigned before the match. Why are you running around?"

Chivu shouted with dissatisfaction.

He really disliked players who didn't follow his tactical intentions.

However, Tang Long bit the bullet and ignored Chivu's instruction!

Because he knew that Team B couldn't even touch the ball in the front court, And he had to drop very deep to have any chance of receiving it.

"This kid is truly disappointing."

Chivu cursed under his breath.

Just as he was about to substitute Tang Long to give him a dressing down, Team B, having been under siege for 10 minutes, finally won possession.

After the center-back intercepted the striker's attack, He looked up, Saw that the closest person to him was Tang Long, And passed the ball to him.

Just as the ball rolled toward Tang Long, A simulated map of the pitch instantly unfolded in his mind!

On this simulation, the positions of all 22 players on the field were marked with dots.

Even though Tang Long was receiving the ball with his back to the play, he could clearly see the movement direction of everyone.

"Press him! Don't let him receive and turn comfortably!"

Dimarco, the left-back for Team A who had pushed up to the front court, charged straight at Tang Long.

And on the other side, The Team A striker also sprinted toward Tang Long!

The two of them instantly formed a pincer movement against Tang Long.

The center-back who had just passed to Tang Long was so scared that he shouted at him:

"Don't hesitate! Pass it back to me, let me clear it!"

However, at this moment, A line of brainwaves flashed through Tang Long's mind, embedding a piece of information into his brain in mere milliseconds.

-[The opponent's midfield and front line are pressing too far forward, our striker is near the center circle. Passing the ball to the front court in a quick semi-arc at this moment has an 82.76% probability of creating a threatening attack according to big data.]

In the simulated heat map of the pitch in Tang Long's mind, The icon of his teammate, the striker, instantly changed from yellow to a glowing, shimmering light.

"Enzo, watch the ball!"

Tang Long twisted his body with extreme difficulty, opened up space with a half-turn of his right foot, and then used the instep of his left foot to strike the bottom of the ball heavily, sending it flying forward in an arc!

It soared into the air—

His teammate from Team B, Enzo, saw his eyes light up instantly, immediately leveraging his speed advantage, and chased after the ball's trajectory.

As long as he reached the ball, he would immediately be in a 1-on-1 situation against Team A's center-back.

It was just a pity, that this pass from Tang Long's weaker left foot was a bit too long!

Even though Enzo chased the ball with all his might, it still went out of bounds.

"Sigh, just a little bit off!"

"It seems my current passing attribute is simply not up to par when using my weak foot."

Tang Long clutched his head in frustration.

He had passed the ball exactly according to the system's prompt, if only he had used a little less power, Enzo definitely would have reached it, and with his speed, it wouldn't have been a problem at all!

What a real shame...

"Beautiful!"

"That was a fantastic pass!!!"

A loud voice, instantly snapped the still-frustrated Tang Long back to reality!

It was the shout of the assistant coach, Chivu, from the sidelines!

His rhythmic clapping echoed throughout the vast stadium, and even from fifty or sixty meters away, Tang Long could hear the crisp sound of the applause.

"The thought process was spot on, a direct long pass without taking a touch, a beautiful ball! Tang, well done!"

Chivu smiled and gave Tang Long a thumbs-up.

Even his teammate Enzo, who hadn't reached the ball, ran back to high-five Tang Long.

"That was a great pass, it's a pity I wasn't fast enough, there was nothing wrong with your delivery!"

Enzo encouraged Tang Long.

A scene like this, had never occurred in any of the training scrimmages Tang Long had participated in over the past five months!

My teammates and coach actually said my pass was good!

This allowed Tang Long to regain quite a bit of confidence.

"The only regret this time was the weak foot; next time, with my dominant foot, I'll definitely deliver a perfect ball!"