The Coaching System

Pre-Match Analysis – A System Prediction Unlike Any Other

Jake Wilson sat in his office, eyes locked onto the glowing screen in front of him. The Coaching System had just updated its pre-match probability, and for the first time in his managerial career, he found himself genuinely stunned.

Bradford: 60% win probability

Sheffield United: 25% win probability

Draw: 15%

He leaned back, tapping his fingers rhythmically against the wooden desk.

This didn't add up.

Sheffield United was a Championship club, filled with players who had competed at the highest levels. They weren't just some mid-table League One team punching above their weight—this was a club that had Premier League experience only a few seasons ago.

And yet, the system believed Bradford was the favorite.

Jake exhaled, narrowing his eyes at the screen. He had grown used to the system's cold, analytical breakdowns. It had never been overly optimistic. When they faced a stronger team, it told him—no sugarcoating, no false hope. It had correctly predicted when Bradford would struggle against a high-pressing side, when their squad depth would be tested, and when their tactics needed to be adjusted to survive a match, rather than win it.

But this?

"This is new."

He clicked into the deeper analysis, his mind already shifting into tactical mode. The system had broken down Sheffield's tendencies, their shape, and most importantly—their vulnerabilities.

Sheffield United's Tactical Identity

Sheffield United set up in a 4-3-3, a formation designed for dominance in possession and quick transitions from the flanks. This wasn't a team that sat back—they wanted control, they wanted to dictate play, and they had the personnel to do it.

Strengths:Midfield control – The trio of Vinícius Souza, Ollie Arblaster, and Gustavo Hamer was their heartbeat. Souza provided the physicality, Arblaster dictated the tempo, and Hamer was the creative force who unlocked defenses.Explosive wingers – Ben Brereton Díaz and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi weren't just quick—they were direct, capable of cutting inside and taking on defenders one-on-one. If left unchecked, they could create chaos on their own.Composed backline – With Anel Ahmedhodžić and Rob Holding at center-back, Sheffield had an experienced defensive pairing that knew how to handle pressure.

This was a high-quality team. On paper, Bradford shouldn't be favorites.

But then, Jake examined the weaknesses.

Weaknesses:Overcommitted full-backs – Both Harry Clarke (right-back) and Harrison Burrows (left-back) loved to push high up the pitch. That meant huge spaces would open behind them—spaces that could be exploited by Bradford's wingers.Lack of pace at center-back – Ahmedhodžić and Holding were strong, disciplined, and great in the air—but neither was fast. If forced into foot races, they would struggle against quick attackers.Reliance on width – Most of Sheffield's attacks came from the flanks. If Bradford forced them inside, they became predictable. Their midfield had talent, but without space, Hamer and Arblaster weren't as dangerous.Aerial threat limited to one player – Tom Cannon, their striker, was their only true aerial target. If Barnes and Min-jae handled him well, Sheffield would struggle to score from crosses.

Jake's mind worked quickly. He could already see the blueprint forming.

The Plan – Turning Weaknesses Into Advantages

Bradford couldn't afford to play into Sheffield's hands. If they sat too deep, they would get pinned in, forced to clear desperate balls forward only for Sheffield to regain possession and attack again.

So the solution? Controlled aggression.

Press high, but selectively. Sheffield relied on their midfield to build attacks—so Jake's side would press Arblaster and Hamer immediately. No time to turn, no time to look up. If they had to play backward, it disrupted their rhythm.

Exploit the full-back gaps. Clarke and Burrows loved bombing forward. That meant Silva and Rasmussen had to be ready to counter fast. Every turnover in midfield had to be turned into a quick, direct attack down the wings.

Target their slow center-backs. Castellón and Novak would start up front, and their job was simple: run at Ahmedhodžić and Holding. Make them uncomfortable. Stretch them.

Stay compact defensively. No gaps between midfield and defense. Sheffield's attack was most dangerous when given space—so Bradford would deny it at all costs.

Jake's smirk returned.

The system was right.

Sheffield expected lower-league teams to show them respect, to be too cautious and let them control the match.

Bradford wasn't going to play by their rules.

This wasn't about sitting back and hoping for a lucky break. This was about going after them, exposing their weaknesses, and showing that Bradford wasn't just here to compete—they were here to win.

Jake leaned forward, closing the system's analysis window.

It was time to take this plan to the squad.

Bradford weren't underdogs anymore.

Now, they had to prove why.

The Tactical Meeting – Setting the Plan in Motion

Jake walked into the team meeting room, where his players were waiting. The large screen at the front displayed Sheffield's starting eleven, each player's strengths and weaknesses highlighted in red and green.

He glanced around the room, taking a moment before speaking.

"We're not here to play their game," he said. "We're here to make them uncomfortable."

Clicking the remote, the screen shifted to a tactical breakdown.

"They like to control the game through midfield. If we let them settle, they'll pick us apart. That means pressing high—no time on the ball for their playmakers. Arblaster and Hamer can't be allowed to dictate the tempo."

His eyes moved to the defenders.

"Their full-backs push up aggressively. Clarke and Burrows will leave space behind them. That's where we hurt them. Renan, Leo—you'll have space. Use it."

Silva and Rasmussen exchanged glances. Jake could already see them calculating how to exploit the gaps.

Then, he shifted to the heart of the team.

"The biggest weakness? Their center-backs. Holding and Ahmedhodžić are strong, but they struggle against pace. That's why we're starting Castellón up front with Novak. We go direct, fast, and catch them off guard before they settle."

A murmur of surprise went through the room. Castellón hadn't started many games this season, but he was fully fit and one of the quickest strikers in the squad.

Jake turned to the forward. "Diego, you're fit. You're ready. You're going to cause them problems."

Castellón nodded, his jaw tightening with determination.

Jake turned back to the team. "We respect them, but we don't fear them. We play our football. Fast, aggressive, ruthless."

He clicked the screen off.

"Now let's go prove we belong."

Starting XI – 4-4-2 FormationGK – Emeka OkaforRB – James RichardsCB – Nathan Barnes (C)CB – Kang Min-jaeLB – Aiden TaylorRM – Renan SilvaCM – Andrés IbáñezCM – Daniel LoweLM – Leo RasmussenST – Lukas NovakST – Diego Castellón

Tobias Richter and Guilherme Costa were waiting as impact subs.

Jake looked at each of his players. "Any questions?"

Silence.

Good.

Press Conference – The Outside Doubts

The media room was packed. The moment Bradford reached the EFL Cup quarter-finals, interest in Jake's side had exploded. There were journalists from national outlets now, not just the usual League One reporters.

He took his seat, microphone adjusted in front of him. The first question came immediately.

"Jake, Sheffield United are a Championship side with Premier League experience. This is your toughest test yet. Do you think your team is ready?"

Jake's expression didn't change. "Football isn't played on reputation. It's played on the pitch."

Some reporters smirked at his response, but one pushed further.

"Still, surely you acknowledge they're the favorites?"

Jake tilted his head slightly. "Are they?"

That got their attention.

Another journalist leaned forward. "Are you saying you expect to win?"

Jake exhaled slowly. "I expect my players to play to their potential. If we do that, we have every chance."

Another hand shot up. "Statistically speaking, no League One team has made the EFL Cup semi-finals in over a decade. Do you feel pressure?"

Jake gave a small smirk. "Pressure is when you're fighting relegation. This? This is an opportunity."

More questions came, but Jake handled them the way he always did—calm, measured, and confident.

As he left the podium, he caught a glimpse of a few of his players watching from the hallway.

Rasmussen grinned. "So, we're not the underdogs, huh?"

Jake shrugged. "We'll see tomorrow."

But deep down, he already knew.

The system had never been wrong before.

And if it believed Bradford were the better team—then maybe, just maybe, they were.