The Coaching System-Chapter 153: Returning from Japan & Preparing for Real Madrid
Jake stepped off the plane at Manchester Airport, stretching out the stiffness from the long flight. Ariel was still fast asleep in Emma's arms, while Ethan trailed behind, scrolling through his phone.
"Long flight?" Paul Roberts greeted him outside, leaning against Jake's car.
"You have no idea," Jake muttered, opening the trunk for the luggage.
Paul smirked. "Well, no time to rest. The lads are gearing up for Madrid. You picked a hell of a time to take a vacation."
Jake chuckled. "Yeah, I'm sure they missed me."
"Actually," Paul said, "they might have. It's been intense. They know who we're playing next."
Jake nodded. He wasn't even fully back yet, and the weight of the next match was already settling in.
Real Madrid.
The biggest test yet.
System Analysis – The Madrid Threat
By the time Jake got home and settled, a familiar notification greeted him on his laptop.
DING!
[Opponent Breakdown: Real Madrid]
Jake clicked on the report, his eyes scanning the data. A loading bar flashed briefly before the system displayed the expected starting lineup, tactical notes, and—at the very top—a probability chart.
Match Prediction:
Real Madrid Win – 95%
Draw – 2%
Bradford Win – 3%
Jake let out a slow breath. He had seen tough odds before, but this? This was a reminder of the sheer gulf between the two teams.
Real Madrid weren't just favorites—they were expected to dominate.
The system had even included a warning.
"Opposition Strength: Extreme. Tactical advantage: None. Suggested approach: Damage limitation."
Jake ignored that last part. He wasn't walking into this match just to limit damage. He was here to find a way to compete.
He refocused on the details.
Predicted Starting XI (4-3-3 Formation)
Goalkeeper: Andriy Lunin – Courtois rested for bigger matches.
Right Back: Lucas Vázquez – Rotation option for Carvajal.
Center Back: Antonio Rüdiger – Veteran presence in defense.
Center Back: Éder Militão – Gaining match sharpness after injury recovery.
Left Back: Fran García – Rotation for Mendy.
Central Midfielder: Eduardo Camavinga – Box-to-box engine, controls the tempo.
Central Midfielder: Aurélien Tchouaméni – Defensive anchor, strong in duels.
Attacking Midfielder: Arda Güler – Given a chance to impress in attack.
Right Wing: Brahim Díaz – Dribbling specialist, unpredictable on the ball.
Left Wing: Rodrygo – Quick, dangerous in 1v1 situations.
Striker: Endrick – The Brazilian wonderkid, Madrid's future star.
Substitutes Likely to FeatureThibaut Courtois (GK) – World-class shot-stopper, but expected to rest.
Dani Carvajal (RB) – Experienced full-back, could be subbed on for stability.
David Alaba (CB) – Versatile defender, can also play in midfield.
Ferland Mendy (LB) – Stronger defensively than Fran García.
Federico Valverde (CM) – Tireless midfielder, adds energy.
Jude Bellingham (CM) – One of Europe's best young midfielders, a major threat.
Luka Modrić (CM) – Even at his age, still a magician with the ball.
Vinícius Júnior (LW) – Madrid's most electric winger, game-changer.
Kylian Mbappé (ST) – The world-class superstar, can change a game instantly.
Madrid's Strengths
The system laid out Madrid's strengths with brutal honesty.
Relentless Attacking Play – Madrid wouldn't sit back. They would press, move the ball quickly, and overwhelm the opposition.
World-Class Wingers – Rodrygo and Díaz were rapid, direct, and ruthless in one-on-one situations. If that wasn't enough, Vinícius Júnior was waiting on the bench.
Midfield Control – Camavinga and Tchouaméni could dictate the pace of the game. If they were given space, Madrid would dominate possession.
Bench Firepower – Even if Bradford managed to stay in the game, Madrid could change the entire dynamic by bringing on Mbappé, Modrić, or Bellingham.
Jake grimaced as he read through the list. There was no obvious flaw, no glaring weakness to exploit.
Except for one thing.
Madrid's Weakness – A Small Window of Opportunity
"Defensive Vulnerability: Rüdiger & Militão's Aggression."
The system flagged Madrid's center-backs as their only potential weak point.
Rüdiger and Militão were physically dominant, but they played high-risk football.
If pressed properly, they could be forced into rushed decisions.
Neither were completely comfortable playing against quick counter-attacks.
Fran García was a weak link defensively—Bardghji could exploit him.
That was it. That was the opening.
Jake leaned back in his chair, thinking.
Bradford wouldn't be able to match Madrid's midfield. They wouldn't be able to stop their wingers entirely.
But if they disrupted Madrid's defensive line? If they pressed Rüdiger and Militão aggressively? If they hit them on the counter before their structure was set?
They might have a chance.
A small one.
But a chance nonetheless.
Jake grabbed his notebook and started writing.
Madrid might have a 95% chance of winning.
But football wasn't played on a system's prediction.
Bradford was going to fight.
Training & Tactical Setup
The next morning, Bradford's training ground had an extra edge to it. Players moved sharper, voices were louder, and the atmosphere was charged with the knowledge of what lay ahead.
Real Madrid.
Not just another match. Not just another pre-season friendly. This was a test against one of the best teams in the world.
Jake stood in front of the squad, Paul Roberts beside him, as the players completed their warm-up. He let the moment settle, taking a deep breath before speaking.
"This is the biggest test yet," Jake started, his voice calm but firm. "Real Madrid aren't just another team. They are the team."
The squad listened, fully locked in.
"We won't outplay them one-on-one. They have better players, faster players, more experienced players. But that doesn't mean we can't win."
Jake walked over to the tactics board and flipped it around, revealing Madrid's predicted lineup. He tapped the midfield area.
"They will try to control the game through Camavinga and Tchouaméni. If we let them dictate, we'll spend ninety minutes chasing shadows."
Vélez and Ibáñez leaned in slightly. They knew what was coming.
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"So what's the plan?" Barnes asked, arms crossed.
Jake turned to the squad, his expression unwavering.
"Simple. We don't let them breathe," he said. "Vélez and Ibáñez, you're pressing their midfield relentlessly. If they lose control, we hit them in transition."
He pointed at Madrid's backline, where the names Rüdiger and Militão were written in bold.
"They're elite defenders, no doubt about it," Jake continued. "But they thrive on structure. They aren't comfortable when pressed. They want time on the ball. We don't give them any."
He paused, looking at his strikers.
"Lunin is solid, but he's not Courtois. If we press hard and force rushed passes, we can create mistakes."
Jake turned to Bardghji and Silva next.
"You two have one job—attack their full-backs. García and Vázquez are not elite defenders. Isolate them. Take them on. Make them uncomfortable. Force mistakes."
Silva smirked. "I like this plan."
Jake wasn't finished.
He looked at Costa and Richter, his main striking options.
"Our strikers need to be smart. Madrid won't give us many chances, so we have to make them count. No wasted opportunities. Every shot, every break, every transition has to be precise."
He stepped back, eyes sweeping across the squad.
"This isn't just a friendly," Jake said, his voice low but firm. "This is a test. This is the level we want to reach. This is where we prove that we belong."
The squad nodded.
They were ready.
Press Conference – Facing a Giant
The anticipation was undeniable. The room buzzed with murmurs, journalists adjusting their cameras and flipping through their notes. This wasn't just another pre-season press conference—this was Bradford City preparing to take on Real Madrid.
Jake took his seat at the table, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp. The microphone in front of him caught the faint sound of whispers before the first question came in.
"Jake, how does it feel preparing your squad to face a club as big as Real Madrid?"
He smirked slightly, leaning forward.
"It's a great challenge. These are the kinds of matches we want to be involved in. Madrid is the benchmark of world football. Testing ourselves against them? That's invaluable."
He could see the journalists scribbling down notes, already preparing their next questions. The next one came fast.
"Bradford has had a strong pre-season so far, but this is another level. Are you concerned about the gap in quality?"
Jake nodded slightly, considering his words.
"Look, let's not pretend we're equals. Madrid are Champions League contenders every year. We're a newly promoted Championship team. On paper, there's a gap. But football isn't played on paper. It's played on the pitch. We'll go out there and fight, just like we always do."
A few murmurs of approval rippled through the room.
The focus shifted.
"You've made a lot of moves in the transfer market—Bardghji, Obi, Rin Itoshi. Are you happy with the squad you've built so far?"
Jake leaned forward slightly, his fingers tapping against the table.
"I'm very happy with what we've done. We've strengthened key areas, added depth, and brought in players who fit the way we want to play. But we're not done yet."
That caught attention.
A journalist in the front row leaned in.
"Not done yet? More signings incoming?"
Jake smirked.
"We'll see."
He didn't say anything more. He let the weight of the words settle in the room.
The final question arrived, and it was a big one.
"How do you think your players will handle facing stars like Vinícius, Modrić, and Mbappé if they come on?"
Jake exhaled, his expression thoughtful.
"I think it'll be a great lesson for them. Some of these guys grew up watching those players. But when that whistle blows, there's no admiration—just competition. That's football."
There was a pause, a moment of silence as the weight of the upcoming challenge hung in the air.
Then, the press officer stepped in. "That'll be all for today."
Jake stood, shaking hands with a few journalists before exiting.
Madrid awaited.
And Bradford would be ready.
