The Coaching System

Everything in sight was crushed down by the merciless wave of dry air that was the Tunisian heat. Squinting in the afternoon light, Jake Wilson resized his training shirt sleeves as he got off the team bus.

Bradford City had traveled from England to Tunisia for their second preseason match, a deal struck when they signed Ahmed Saidi from AS Gabès. It was supposed to be a friendly, but as Jake took in the atmosphere, he knew there was nothing friendly about this game.

The moment Saidi stepped off the bus, the hostility began.

The crowd waiting outside the stadium erupted into boos and jeers. Fans held up banners written in Arabic, their meanings clear even without translation:

"TRAITOR."

"YOU BETRAYED YOUR HOME."

"NEVER FORGIVEN!"

Saidi's face remained impassive, but Jake could see the tension in his shoulders.

Paul Roberts, his assistant coach, exhaled. "I knew it'd be bad, but this… they're treating him like a criminal."

Jake didn't respond. He simply walked toward Saidi and placed a firm hand on his shoulder.

"You good?"

Saidi nodded once, though his expression was unreadable.

"I expected this," the defender muttered. "They think I abandoned them."

Jake's eyes didn't waver. "You didn't abandon anyone. You made the right move for your career. Now go out there and prove it."

Saidi exhaled and stepped forward, heading toward the tunnel.

Jake followed, already thinking about how they would handle this match in brutal 38°C heat, against a team fueled by emotion.

This wasn't just another preseason game.

This was a war.

Kickoff 

The referee blew the whistle, and the match began.

From the first pass, Bradford struggled.

The intense Tunisian heat drained their energy faster than expected. Players were sluggish, their movements not as sharp as they had been in Spain. The ball felt heavier, and the pitch, dry and rough, made quick passing almost impossible.

AS Gabès knew exactly how to take advantage.

They played with high intensity, using their speed and fitness to overwhelm Bradford's midfield.

Carter was pressed relentlessly, unable to find space.

Novak couldn't sprint the way he normally did, slowed down by the heat.

Okafor made an early save, already looking exhausted.

Jake stood on the touchline, arms crossed.

Paul leaned in. "We're struggling. We look slow."

Jake didn't reply, his mind already analyzing the game.

Bradford had trained for intensity, but they hadn't prepared for this kind of oppressive weather.

He needed to make adjustments—fast.

AS Gabès Takes Control

By the 15th minute, the hosts had full control.

They passed quickly, switching the play from left to right, forcing Bradford to chase.

The crowd roared every time Saidi touched the ball, booing him mercilessly.

Despite the pressure, the defender held his ground, making two solid tackles early on.

But the rest of the team?

They were struggling.

Lowe and Barnes couldn't stop the constant midfield overload.

Novak and Taylor were too deep, unable to break forward.

Carter, usually the creative spark, was completely shut down.

Then, in the 22nd minute, AS Gabès broke through.

A quick one-two pass cut through Bradford's midfield, leading to a curling shot from the edge of the box.

Okafor dived—but the ball flew past him, smashing into the net.

GOAL! 1-0, AS Gabès.

The stadium erupted, the fans roaring in approval.

Saidi stood near the penalty box, fists clenched.

Jake exhaled, turning toward his bench.

"We need to adapt."

A blue screen flashed in his vision.

[Ding! Tactical Suggestion: Adjust Shape & Play Shorter Passes]

[Recommendation: Lower Defensive Line & Reduce Pressing to Conserve Energy]

Jake nodded, then shouted instructions.

"Drop the line! Keep the ball on the ground—stop forcing long passes!"

The players adjusted, but it wasn't enough.

AS Gabès continued to push forward, using the crowd's energy to fuel their attack.

Saidi Under Attack – The Breaking Point

By the 30th minute, every time Saidi touched the ball, the fans booed louder.

The AS Gabès players weren't holding back either.

One attacker shoved Saidi after a clearance.

A midfielder whispered something in his ear before a corner kick.

The referee ignored most of it.

Jake clenched his jaw.

Paul muttered, "They're trying to get into his head."

Jake narrowed his eyes at the field. Saidi hadn't reacted yet, but Jake could see the tension building.

Then, in the 38th minute, it boiled over.

A high ball was sent toward Saidi, and as he went up to head it clear—an AS Gabès striker deliberately crashed into him.

Saidi hit the ground hard.

The referee did nothing.

The AS Gabès players laughed.

The crowd cheered.

Saidi snapped.

He shot to his feet, grabbing the striker by the collar.

The players rushed in—a small scuffle broke out.

Jake immediately stepped forward.

"Saidi!" His voice cut through the noise.

The defender turned, breathing hard.

Jake's stare was ice-cold.

"Walk. Away."

A tense moment passed.

Then, finally, Saidi let go.

The referee pulled both players aside, giving them a warning instead of a card.

As Saidi walked back into position, he avoided Jake's gaze.

But Jake knew exactly what had just happened.

His center-back was losing control.

The whistle blew, signaling halftime.

Bradford walked off the pitch drained, frustrated, and behind on the scoreboard.

Jake entered the locker room, face unreadable.

No one spoke. The players already knew they were underperforming.

Jake finally stepped forward.

"We're playing into their hands," he said evenly. "We're forcing attacks we don't need to. We're not using our brains."

He turned to Novak. "You need to stop holding back. Run at them. Make them work."

To Carter. "You're letting them control the game. Take the ball and make them chase."

Finally, his eyes locked onto Saidi.

"You're playing their game," Jake said, voice quieter. "That's not why I brought you here."

Saidi looked down, nodding slightly.

Jake leaned in, voice firm but calm.

"Forget them. Play your game. Prove to them why you're here."

Saidi lifted his head.

The fire was still in his eyes, but now?

It was focused.

Jake turned to the rest of the squad.

"We're not losing this game," he said simply. "Go out there and show them who we are."