The Coaching System

Matchday 

The sun beat down on the pitch as Bradford City lined up for their second-to-last preseason match, facing Coventry City, a strong Championship side.

Jake Wilson stood on the touchline, arms crossed. This was the match where he would ignore the system's simulation and trust his own instincts.

The system had warned him to play cautiously, sit deeper, and absorb Coventry's press.

But Jake had decided to do the exact opposite.

[Formation: 4-3-3 Attacking]

Goalkeeper: Okafor

Right-Back: Richards

Center-Backs: Saidi, Barnes

Left-Back: Taylor

Defensive Midfielder: Charlie Benson (First Senior Start!)

Central Midfielders: Carter, Ortega

Right Wing: Collins

Left Wing: Castellón

Striker: Thompson

This was Benson's first senior start, and Castellón, still searching for his best form, was getting another chance on the left wing.

Jake turned to Paul Roberts. "We're going aggressive early. High press, quick transitions."

Paul smirked. "Going against the machine, huh?"

Jake grinned. "Let's see who's right."

The referee blew the whistle.

Kickoff.

Bradford exploded out of the gates.

2nd minute – Collins dribbled past two defenders and forced an early save from the Coventry goalkeeper.

7th minute – Benson made a strong interception in midfield, launching a counterattack that nearly led to a goal.

12th minute – Ortega threaded a beautiful pass to Thompson, who fired a shot inches wide.

Jake's plan was working. Coventry looked stunned—they hadn't expected Bradford to play so aggressively.

Then, in the 16th minute, the breakthrough came.

Castellón received a long ball from Carter on the left wing.

He cut inside, skipped past one defender, then another.

From outside the box, he curled a stunning shot into the top corner.

GOAL!

1-0, Bradford!

Jake clenched his fist. That was Castellón's first goal for the club.

Paul grinned. "I think we just found our left winger for the season."

Coventry woke up after conceding.

22nd minute – Their striker won an aerial battle against Barnes and forced Okafor into a diving save.

27th minute – A mistake from Saidi allowed Coventry's winger to go one-on-one with Okafor, but the keeper denied him again.

Jake could feel momentum shifting. Coventry's physicality was starting to take control.

Then, in the 31st minute, Coventry equalized.

A corner swung into the box.

Their 6'3" center-back outjumped everyone and powered a header into the net.

1-1.

Jake cursed under his breath. Another goal conceded from a set piece.

Paul shook his head. "We have to fix that before the season starts."

Before Bradford could settle, Coventry struck again.

36th minute – Their striker bullied Barnes off the ball, cut inside, and curled a shot past Okafor.

1-2, Coventry.

Suddenly, everything had flipped.

Jake had a decision to make. Stick with the plan or adjust?

He turned to the bench. "Time for a change."

At halftime, Jake made two substitutions.

Benson off, Lowe on – Benson had played well, but the midfield needed more stability.

Thompson off, Novak on – Fresh legs in attack.

Jake didn't tell the team to sit back. He told them to keep attacking.

And in the 54th minute, Bradford equalized.

Ortega won a midfield duel and released Collins down the right.

The young winger whipped in a perfect low cross.

Novak, fresh off the bench, tapped it home.

2-2!

Bradford's bench erupted.

Collins ran straight to Jake, fists clenched. The academy player had just created a huge goal.

Paul grinned. "The kid is fearless."

A Chaotic Final 20 Minutes

The match turned into complete madness.

61st minute – Saidi made a last-ditch block to stop a clear goal.

67th minute – Castellón hit the post after dribbling past three defenders.

71st minute – Coventry had a goal ruled out for offside after VAR intervention.

Then, in the 78th minute, disaster struck.

Coventry launched a quick counterattack.

Barnes, frustrated from being beaten earlier, lunged in late on their striker.

The referee didn't hesitate—straight red card.

Bradford down to 10 men.

Jake ran his hands through his hair. "Not what we needed."

Paul groaned. "We're in survival mode now."

With a man down, Jake switched the formation to a 4-4-1, putting everyone behind the ball.

Coventry attacked relentlessly.

84th minute – Okafor made a stunning double save.

88th minute – Carter cleared a shot off the line.

Then, in stoppage time, Bradford got one last chance.

Ortega won a free kick near the edge of the box.

Castellón stepped up, eyeing the goal.

He curled a perfect shot over the wall…

…but the Coventry keeper tipped it over!

The final whistle blew.

2-2 draw.

Jake exhaled. "What a match."

In the locker room, Jake gathered the players.

"That was chaos," he admitted. "But we fought until the end. Castellón, that goal was top-class. Collins—great assist. Carter—rock solid."

The players applauded each other. Despite the draw, the team felt like they had grown.

But he knew they had work to do.

Defending set pieces had to improve.

Discipline had to be better—Barnes' red card could've cost them.

The attack was coming together, but finishing needed to be sharper.

With one preseason match left, it was almost time for the real season.