Football: My AI System Provides Max-Level Predictions-Chapter 49: Advice from the Midfield Maestro Pirlo: Tang, practice your dribbling well!

Chapter 49: Chapter 49: Advice from the Midfield Maestro Pirlo: Tang, practice your dribbling well!

Tang Long’s mistake in midfield directly led to Inter’s goal loss!

Pirlo’s long pass seemed like a casual leg swing, but the ball was like a cruise missile, bypassing defender Ranocchia and landing precisely at the feet of the onside Spanish star Morata.

Goalkeeper Handa was helpless.

"Ah, how could Tang handle the ball like that? He should have turned around and protected the ball first!"

"Bang," a towel from Berni on the bench hit the ground heavily.

Guarín, who was warming up on the sidelines, shook his head as he watched.

"A fatal mistake, losing the ball in this position is too deadly!"

After Juventus scored, they launched a full-scale attack.

Statistics show they are the team with the most goals between 35-45 minutes in the entire Serie A Alliance.

This time period is also the crucial output point for the Juventus Corps’ firepower.

With their strong midfield and defensive control, they took over the game.

Especially the 36-year-old veteran Pirlo, frequently creating threats in midfield!

Many times in defense, Tang Long and Medel fiercely double-teamed Pirlo, but the short, not physically strong, and not fast Italian veteran always managed to escape their defensive encirclement with basic moves like turning in place, feinting, and ball pulling.

He was like a slow-moving stream of water, seemingly weak, but no matter how hard you try, you can’t catch it!

And when you angrily punch it, you only splash yourself, gaining nothing.

Kicking fluidly, with ease—this is precisely the mastery of a midfield expert like Pirlo.

In the 43rd minute of the first half, Inter was hit again!

Again, a pass from Pirlo!

This time, Master Pi pretended to make a long pass to the left, his eyes also looking left, but unexpectedly, his ankle twisted at the last moment, and he sent the ball along a concealed line to the advancing right-back Lichtsteiner.

Cross!

Morata header!

Brace!

Over 70,000 Inter fans at Meazza Stadium were silent.

Such a start was really tough.

In the second half, Mancini made personnel changes.

Tang Long was substituted, and Guarín entered in his place.

...

"Tang, you should really learn from Pirlo. Look at his dribbling in midfield, so graceful, so effortless, with no unnecessary movements; this is the demeanor of a master."

"Look at this! See, how did he just deceive Medel? Did you notice anything? His shoulder has a deceptive turn; this is the key point! Have you learned it?"

On the bench, every time Pirlo took the ball, Berni would sincerely analyze Pirlo’s moves to Tang Long.

"In my view, Pirlo is the best top-notch midfielder in Serie A for the past decade. If you could learn even thirty percent of Pirlo’s dribbling and ball protection skills, Tang, you could truly establish yourself in a team like Inter."

Tang Long nodded, watching Pirlo intently.

Although he only played for 45 minutes, facing Pirlo up close, he truly saw what it meant to be a top midfielder of Italy’s golden generation.

Berni took a pause, looking at Guarín on the field with words unsaid.

"Tang, actually, you should also take a look at Guarín. Though he doesn’t get along with you, he has things worth learning."

Third goalkeeper Berni’s words weren’t wrong.

After Guarín came on, Inter’s midfield toughness was raised by a notch!

Mainly in the way he held the ball in midfield, daring to take it.

Unlike Pirlo, Guarín’s ball holding in midfield relies on strong body resistance.

Previously, when Tang Long was on the field, if faced with more than two opponents, he had to quickly pass the ball.

But Guarín was different; he could withstand the press!

The Colombian star’s body strength was around 95, with dribbling at an average level of 80, making him a primary ball contestant in Inter’s midfield.

Pirlo attracts opponents through dribbling and controlling, then passes to create openings.

Guarín withstands opponents physically and does the same.

Although his passing isn’t as elegant and his accuracy far from Pirlo’s, it ultimately allows Inter’s wings to receive the ball in open spaces.

In the 66th minute, Guarín used rock-like shoulders to push Marchisio aside, advancing like a bulldozer!

"Here!"

Icardi suddenly made a behind-the-back move, deceiving center-back Bonucci, asking for the ball!

Guarín hesitated a bit, didn’t pass, and instead sent the ball to the advancing Yuto Nagatomo on the wing.

Yuto Nagatomo rushed to the baseline, drawing two defenders, then made a triangle return pass!

Coach Guardiola arrived in time, with a powerful shot, hitting the crossbar!

The ground trembled!

Guarín gestured to the north stand, constantly waving his hand, "Louder, shout!"

The fans responded with fervent cheers, how could Inter fans not love such a Guarín?

"Icardi’s not making much impact, switch him for Podolski."

With Mancini’s order, the ball-skilled, more fluid German forward took the field.

When Icardi left the field, although the home fans applauded him, he clearly wasn’t in high spirits, only briefly high-fiving his teammates.

He sat silently on the bench afterward.

After Podolski took the field, he played smoothly.

As a big-match player for the German national team with over 100 caps, he and his partner Palacio frequently left the penalty area, roaming in the flanks.

In the 75th minute, it was precisely Podolski’s cut shot after he got the ball on the flank that allowed Inter to get one back!

The broadcast camera specifically focused on Icardi, who was substituted on the bench.

He didn’t look happy, his face gloomy.

Berni glanced at Icardi, covered his mouth, leaned closer to Tang Long’s ear, and whispered:

"This German’s not simple, against strong teams like Juventus, he’s more impactful than Icardi, he can run, break, shoot, very versatile!"

Ultimately, the scoreline of 1-2 remained until the end of the match.

Inter couldn’t complete their revenge at home.

The players on the bench stood up, went to the center of the pitch, and encouraged their teammates.

After chatting briefly with Ranocchia, Tang Long was tapped on the back.

Pirlo, with his bushy beard, was smiling at him.

"Hello, Tang, could we exchange jerseys?" Pirlo appeared very gentlemanly and polite.

"Of course."

Tang Long exchanged jerseys with Pirlo.

"You played very well, Tang. Those few through balls to Icardi in the first half were very thoughtful. If not for our strong defenders, Icardi would’ve scored at least two, haha!"

After complimenting Tang Long, Pirlo changed the topic.

"However, you should practice your dribbling. I imagine Mancini was dissatisfied with your mistake, that’s why he took you off at halftime. You’re a great passer as a midfielder, but without dribbling skills, your ceiling won’t be high, limited to Serie A."

"Yes, if only I could have dribbling skills like Messi, but alas..."

"NoNoNo!"

Pirlo said three consecutive No’s!

"You don’t need invincible dribbling like Messi, that heavily relies on speed and talent. Learn from me, basic turns, ball control, pulling, the speed doesn’t need to be fast, as long as it falls on the step."

Finishing, Pirlo gestured in the air, "If I were handling the ball you lost, I would handle Sturora this way..."

"If you have time, watch my dribbling videos, you can find them online." Pirlo tapped Tang Long’s shoulder.

Tang Long said, "Mr. Pirlo, I’m your opponent, why do you tell me these things?"

Pirlo replied, "Haha, opponent or not, after this season, I’m heading to the US to play, far from the affairs of European football, to enjoy life. The future of football belongs to you young ones!"

Tang Long paused, suddenly realizing something!

"Mr. Pirlo, if I seek your guidance in football knowledge in the future, would you help me?"

"Haha, feel free to ask! After all, I used to be an Inter player, but they underrated me and sold me to AC Milan. Plus, I was an Inter fan since childhood, that’s absolutely true, you can find pictures online of me wearing Inter jerseys as a kid!

You know what, I’ll let Chiwo send you my number. He’s familiar with me, an old opponent! Feel free to ask whatever you want, once I’m in America in July, I’ll stop using this number!"