Chapter 8: The Ace

If you can maintain such a mindset after losing the game, then I will admire you!" Westhoff, who had arrived at some point, coldly took over the words of Leo Behnack.

Driving through the Southeast New District, Ye Qiu felt a familiar impression, reminding him of his homeland

... ...

However, even so, Team B2 still faced constant dangers at their doorstep, causing many concerned observers to feel a surge of anxiety and fear.

After returning, you should immediately go to the medical center and request the physical report of Team B2 players from yesterday afternoon" Ye Qiu instructed

Likewise! Ye Qiu faced the challenge head-on

Team B1 consists of 17 members, while Team B2 has only 16 members. Both teams have a limited number of players, and the lineups that can be formed are quite apparent, thus they are unable to introduce any novel strategies.

In the half month leading up to the bet, Westhoff enthusiastically arranged for some James Bond-like operatives to spy on and study Ye Qiu's training regimen and tactics. However, as the tactics of Team B2 became monotonous and the training remained unchanged, he felt there was no longer a need to continue his research, and thus relaxed his surveillance.

Westhoff did not pay attention to Leo Benhack's expression; he had never been one to enjoy being subordinate to others. Moreover, now that he had sufficient leverage, there was no need for him to consider Leo Benhack's feelings in his actions

Either do not engage in battle, or if you do, you must completely annihilate the opponent, leaving them no chance to retaliate; that is the true ace!

There was a training session this morning, and a match against Team B1 is scheduled for the afternoon

Ye Qiu glanced at the impatient assistant, smiled gently, and turned away without any sign of agreement.

Michael Van Praag chuckled and said, "You seem to be rather indifferent to winning or losing"

If the head coach is likened to a sword, then the true sharpness of a fine sword must be concealed within its sheath. If it does not reveal itself, that is one thing; but once it does, it must draw blood. Occasionally displaying its brilliance is not the hallmark of a fine sword; such a sword can only be deemed as worthless scrap metal

"Rest assured, Roland, such is the way of the world: do your best and leave the rest to fate!" Ye Qiu patted Roland on the shoulder, offering comfort, as he could sense the tension in this fellow, who had been incessantly honking the horn along the way.

Continuing like this is not a solution; it's time to take action! Roland knew Ye Qiu's intentions and immediately urged.

Seeing that the opponent was not afraid, Westhoff felt somewhat displeased as well. With a hint of disdainful sneer, he said, "I will see how you roll out of Detokmost. Just make sure you don't come crying to me for help then"

The current situation gives him a feeling as if the goal could be wide open at any moment.

A setback in one attack does not dampen the offensive enthusiasm of Team B1. They, along with their strategists, begin to reorganize for a new round of offense, still focusing on finding Van der Vaart in the front line. However, this time, Ye Qiu specifically assigns De Jong to closely mark Van der Vaart, while Maduro is positioned at the forefront of the defense.

Ye Qiu and Westhoff were both on the sidelines. Since it was the second team's field, the facilities were quite rudimentary. Under the rain shelter, there was a long row of wooden benches, which were hard and uncomfortable to sit on. However, no one cared about that now; everyone was fully focused on the game.

But in the end, Ye Qiu does not know who it is

For this competition, for this gamble, Ye Qiu has not relaxed in the slightest over the past two months, spending almost every day between the De Tockmost and the hotel, following a two-point line, putting aside all other matters. Therefore, he does not wish to lose

... ...

Everything that needed to be prepared has already been arranged!" Ye Qiu replied with a faint smile

Certainly, for the time being, that place will be somewhat better, but the Southeast New District will catch up in the morning and evening.

Everywhere there are newly established construction sites, and the sound of machines operating can be heard all around. Many roads are quite bumpy and dusty, yet they convey a sense of thriving prosperity

Whether it is Westhoff or Ye Qiu, the lineup arrangement for both remains the same as before

Therefore, one must not only have foresight but also understand the importance of making choices and sacrifices

Leo Benhakker also nodded and said, "This is a fundamental quality that a head coach must possess"

Ye Qiu felt somewhat tempted after listening, but the car situation was more complicated. He did not have a driver's license and did not know how to drive. Carpooling was an option, but buying a car would pose many issues. On the other hand, he had also considered renting a house, as staying in a hotel long-term was not suitable and the costs were relatively high

... ...

In this situation, Ye Qiu occasionally made some adjustments to the defense, and later simply assigned the team's forward, Rui, to harass Heitinga. He also began to commit more resources to the defense, adopting a posture of determination to hold the line at all costs

However, he also has his own concerns, because if he has not made a decision yet, renting a house would require at least a six-month contract. What if he suddenly needs to leave Ajax, leave Amsterdam? Wouldn't that be quite a disadvantage?

The president of Ajax has a good impression of Ye Qiu, but no one, including Ye Qiu himself, knows exactly why he finds Ye Qiu likable. Perhaps it is simply because of what he said earlier: Ye Qiu's personality and style are very similar to that of a certain individual

Leo Benhakker felt a flicker of displeasure in his eyes upon hearing Westhoff's words. In his view, although Westhoff was not an outstanding head coach, he indeed possessed commendable abilities in many areas. However, his overly competitive nature significantly limited his achievements on the path of being a head coach

To know about https://www.hetushucom.com, Ajax has always esteemed attacking play, consistently branding itself with a style of proactive offensive football. Has it ever employed a defensive tactic like that of Ye Qiu?

However, due to investing more in defense and the inherent disadvantage in strength, Team B2 found themselves in an absolute disadvantage on the field, even appearing to be somewhat overwhelmed, which made them look very passive

In just 5 minutes, after enduring three attacks from Team B1, everyone in Team B2 clearly understood Ye Qiu's tactics

Arranging two players in the central midfield specifically for defensive duties has clear advantages, particularly in freezing and restricting Van der Vaart, which has made this talented player, who is highly regarded by Ajax, feel uncomfortable.

Ye Qiu shook his head, "No, I also place great importance on this, but I do not wish for my judgment to be affected by that importance. I believe that the more critical the moment, the more one should remain calm and rational"

Leo Benhakker nodded and smiled, saying, "While that is indeed true, if there is no way to turn the situation around, what does he rely on to win this match? Or rather, is it possible that he never intended to win the match from the very beginning, but came seeking a draw instead"

In Ye Qiu's view, if he has done his utmost, then whether or not he achieves his goal becomes unimportant

He turned his head and shot a glance at Ye Qiu, as if to say, "Kid, let's see how long you can hold on!"

Continue the attack!" Westhoff left his seat and walked to the sidelines, shouting loudly

Roland, do you know what an ace is

"If this continues, Team B 2 will eventually have their goal breached!" Leo Benhak said, shaking his head

De Tocqueville often organizes such matches internally, with the aim of enhancing the competitive experience among the youth teams. Therefore, everything necessary for the matches is readily available, including the main referee, assistant referees, and ball boys.

Roland could not refute Ye Qiu's theory of the trump card, but he did not agree with it, as he felt that the current situation was already very dangerous, and if adjustments were not made soon, they might very well concede a goal.

At this point, Ye Qiu's eyes, sharp as a wolf's, fixated on the situation on the court; he began to grow calm and composed

Is it really like this

For this reason, almost everyone believes that Westhoff is undoubtedly destined to win. Westhoff himself has also boldly stated that this gamble will be decided in a single match, meaning that he only needs one match to completely crush Ye Qiu's B2 team

What about the training in the morning? Roland asked

From a tactical perspective, neither side has any merits to speak of

At least in the youth league in the Netherlands, he has never encountered such a blockade; no matter where he goes, there is always at least one defender around him, especially that De Jong, who is like a stubborn adhesive plaster that he cannot shake off.

His team has been in excellent form and performance recently, especially Van der Vaart, whose display has been particularly impressive. Everyone can see that the tactical formation devised by Westhoff is centered around Van der Vaart as the core, fully utilizing his individual abilities

As time passed second by second, Team B2, led by Ye Qiu, was still able to withstand the pressure, maintaining a well-organized and orderly defense. However, as Team B1 intensified their offensive efforts, the defensive pressure on Team B2 increased. Eventually, the overall defensive system began to show one vulnerability after another, leading to a precarious situation.

Upon hearing these words, Waters appeared somewhat unsettled, as his recent demeanor had not conveyed a sense of calm amidst praise or blame, but rather exhibited significant emotional fluctuations. His attitudes and feelings towards losing and winning were distinctly different. Ajax's internal concerns regarding his ability to manage his emotions were also growing, and Leo Beenhakker's remarks seemed to be probing at his sore spots

October 28, 1999, Thursday, morning, clear weather

... ...

Roland waited until he was seated and had fastened his seatbelt before starting the car. The entire vehicle shook as it was a second-hand car, already four or five years old. In the hands of a novice like Roland, who did not know how to take care of a car, it is easy to imagine how badly this vehicle had been mistreated.

However, Ke Ye Qiu remained composed, continuing to sit on the coaching bench, intently watching the match.

"No problem, whoever does not leave De Tockmost is a turtle bastard!" Ye Qiu replied without any fear

With the sound of the referee's whistle, the players from both teams immediately began to move

Team B2 was well-prepared for this move from Heitinga. De Jong confidently intercepted ahead of Van der Vaart, heading Heitinga's long pass back. Although possession still remained with Team B1, Team B2's defense was already in position

Roland was so angry that he just wanted to punch him; even at this moment, he was still going around in circles with irrelevant matters. What was the point?

Therefore, he must wait, even if the door is broken down, he still has to wait

This is undoubtedly Van Praag's intuition about Ye Qiu, but more so because he feels that Ye Qiu resembles that person. Thus, it is only natural for him to think that Ye Qiu, like that person, is someone who would rather take risks to win than be content with a draw

"Are you going to hold your ground?" Westhoff sneered as he looked towards Ye Qiu in the distance, filled with disdain in his heart

A big man drives a red Volkswagen, you really are quite flashy! Ye Qiu directly sat in the passenger seat, feeling a bit cramped

How is the preparation going, Ye Qiu

"Ye Qiu, do you still remember our agreement?" Westhoff reminded with a smile

In the morning, the training of Team B2 proceeded just as usual, remaining very calm. Ye Qiu refrained from mentioning the match in the afternoon, as he did not intend to impose any additional pressure on the players. At 15:00 in the afternoon, Michael Van Praag, accompanied by first team head coach Waters, technical director Leo Benhakker, and others, arrived at the modest pitch next to the first team training ground.

Of course, you don't need to remind me!" Ye Qiu replied with a smile.

He is confident in defeating the team of Westhoff, but that must be based on a specific timing.

Ye Qiu could not help but admire the capabilities of Michael van Praag. Although the previous Olympic Stadium was located in the affluent Amstelveen area in the northern part of Amsterdam, adjacent to the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and closer to the city center, it was, in every respect, far inferior to the development prospects of the new southeastern district.

The offensive strategy of Team B1 is actually quite simple, following the typical Ajax 4-3-3 tactical model. The points of attack generally originate from two sources: either from the center-back Heitinga or from the playmaker in the number 10 position, Van der Vaart. Ye Qiu's defensive objective is to sever the connection between these two players, leaving them to fight alone.

From a tactical perspective, Team B2 is inherently weaker than Team B1, and they also have Van der Vaart on their side. Therefore, it is a wise choice for Ye Qiu to prioritize defense, as it is a prudent decision on a tactical level. Conversely, it seems that Van Praag is somewhat defending Ye Qiu.

Westhoff nodded and said, "That's good. We must agree on this first: whoever loses must submit their resignation tonight"

However, even so, Ye Qiu was still not planning to conduct any special training. Many of his ideas had already been instilled in the players through the 8-on-8 and 4-on-4 training arrangements, and he felt sufficiently prepared.

Fan Plage laughed heartily after hearing this, as if he had great confidence in Ye Qiu. He shook his head and said, "He should have more tricks up his sleeve; at least I believe he is not someone who would be content with a draw"

Ye Qiu did not take it to heart and continued, "The so-called trump card must be in one's own hands. I should be able to decide when and how to play it. That is what a trump card is. If the enemy provokes me slightly and I hastily play it to respond, then it is not a trump card; it is merely a playing card"

Although this friendly Dutchman has only been with Ye Qiu for two months, they are already tied together, sharing both progress and setbacks. Their personalities are quite complementary; Roland is the type who is more accustomed to following orders, while Ye Qiu prefers to take the initiative in all situations.

On the makeshift stand behind the rain shelter, a few scattered fans who had heard the news were seated. As long as one possesses an Ajax membership card, entry to watch this match is free. Meanwhile, club president Michael van Praag and others were seated at the central podium, fully focused and awaiting the start of the match.

Ye Qiu thought for a moment, "There is no need for any special training; we will stick to the usual routine and continue with the one-touch training!"

The evaluation from Leo Beenhakker is such that even Waters cannot refute it, for within the entire Ajax management, no one possesses greater insight than Leo Beenhakker, who has immersed himself in football tactics for decades. Moreover, in Waters' view, the tactics employed by Ye Qiu are nothing short of a path to self-destruction

The true trump card, its lethality is absolutely beyond doubt; the key lies in the timing! Ye Qiu no longer paid attention to Roland, as if he were talking to himself. Inside, he was also very anxious, his heart racing. He needed to say something to convince himself to remain calm.

Before long, the area surrounding the Arena Stadium will transform into the most prosperous district of Amsterdam! Roland excitedly introduced the future prospects of the Southeast New District to Ye Qiu, stating that it would become the commercial core of Amsterdam

When both sides' formations appeared on the second team's field, there was actually nothing too surprising about it

When Ye Qiu walked out of the hotel, he saw Roland Shepas's flashy red Volkswagen Polo III parked by the side of the alley, honking insistently at him, and he walked over with a smile.

The Polo is very popular in the Netherlands, with advantages such as good safety performance, a relatively heavy body, and a fairly attractive appearance. It is referred to as a "small tank" by the Dutch, which indicates that the most outstanding feature of this vehicle is its durability. This was also the primary reason why Roland chose it as his first car in life.

Without development and construction, how can there be beautiful cities

"I just like red, what business is it of yours?" Roland retorted, "It's better to talk about yourself than to criticize others. Living in such a rundown hotel is quite uncomfortable; it would be more appropriate to rent a place elsewhere. Then you could buy a second-hand car, making your commute much easier!"

The first to serve was Team B1. After the kickoff, Team B1 quickly passed the ball from front to back, directly reaching the feet of Heitinga. The newly signed Ajax player controlled the ball and swiftly advanced forward, then spotted an opening and made a long pass, aiming to send the ball to the edge of the front area of the penalty box.

Ajax's tradition is to attack, but if Ye Qiu adopts a defensive counterattack strategy, isn't that essentially inviting trouble from Ajax

He was still contemplating what other weapons that arrogant Chinese might possess, but upon seeing the formations of both sides, he felt a deep sense of disappointment. This was because Westhoff had still failed to address the issues with Ajax's 4-3-3 formation, while Ye Qiu had simply adopted a defensive counterattack posture.

If we say that in the entire De Tokmos, there is anyone who hopes for Ye Qiu to win, it would probably be only Roland.

Therefore, there is no need to rush this matter for the time being; let us first attend to the tasks at hand before proceeding further