Football: My AI System Provides Max-Level Predictions
Chapter 103: An Accidental Assist, Still Has Much Room for Improvement!

Chapter 103: Chapter 103: An Accidental Assist, Still Has Much Room for Improvement!

Tang Long now has an agent, so he doesn’t have to worry about contracts at all; Ronaldo personally handles it.

Though Ronaldo is the boss, Tang Long was the first person he signed himself and is also the face of 9nine, so this matter requires his personal involvement to show the importance of clients under his name.

The contract negotiations went very smoothly.

The mere 400,000 euros after-tax salary can no longer match Tang Long’s significance at Inter.

Ronaldo employed a tactical maneuver, proposing a salary increase for another client, Bonazzoli, but was decisively rejected by Oliosi.

When it came to Tang Long, that’s where the main topic began.

It didn’t take long for both parties to agree on a post-tax salary of 2 million euros; as for the contract, it remains unchanged for the original five years.

As for the issue at the end of the season, both parties tacitly avoided discussing it.

No team has yet actively inquired about Tang Long; it’s not too late to address it after the season ends.

If either side shows intentions too early, it would only leave them in a passive position in future negotiations.

Tang Long is fully immersed in Cloud Training, learning Ground Strike passing from De Bruyne’s shadow.

Due to a fragmented template, this shadow isn’t a traditional training partner.

It doesn’t speak, offers no training feedback, and all you can see are blue modeling dots on its shape’s edge.

The shadow simply repeats the Ground Strike pass mechanically over and over.

Tang Long first stood opposite the shadow model, passing with it.

Then he went up close to the shadow model, observing the movements from close up.

The model’s Ground Strike perfectly simulated three traits of De Bruyne’s passing: fast speed, skimming the ground, and large curve.

Tang Long imitated for a long time without grasping it.

Either the speed was fast enough, but the ball didn’t skim the ground and flew up, becoming a half-high ball;

or the ball skimmed the ground but lacked enough bend in rotation to turn on the ground.

When he managed to make it turn while skimming the ground, the issue of ball speed arose again.

"Something is still missing somewhere!"

After practicing for three hours, Tang Long exited Cloud Training, leaned against the bedhead, constantly pondering while feeling that something was still missing.

Where exactly is the problem?

But it doesn’t matter, the system has released a feeding task; just complete the task seriously and see if it makes any differences.

In the Serie A 23rd round, the home match against Genoa.

Tang Long frequently used long-pass Ground Strike!

He tried his best to mimic the AI-modeled actions, sending the ball skimming the ground.

Initially, this made Tang Long feel really awkward!

Logically, he should be able to deliver many threatening balls given his long-pass value of over 70 plus his invincible vision and anticipation.

Even in the last UEFA Europa League match, Tang Long once assisted Icardi to make a powerful small-angle shot by using a long-pass Ground Strike.

That shot, although not very accurate with excessive strength causing the ball to bounce, still surprisingly reached Icardi’s feet.

But today Tang Long seemed to be "walking the wrong path" in imitating the Ground Strike.

He was so obsessed with mimicking De Bruyne’s modeled Ground Strike action that he wore out his own passing standard.

Several serious errors occurred, directly kicking the ball outside the sidelines.

Bang——

"The ball speed is too slow, Tang!"

After an intercepted pass with half the pitch run, Icardi turned back to give Tang Long a thumbs-up.

Bang——

"Hey, my bad, didn’t stop it well!"

This time the curve was great, barely over the opposing center-back but ended up being a half-high ball, right at knee height.

Icardi couldn’t control it and it bounced out two meters, the goalkeeper seized it directly under him.

Their cooperation had multiple failures.

"What’s the reason? Feels like the ’sweet cannonball combination’ power has declined today."

"Tang Long seems obsessed with Ground Strike long passes; I’ve seen him make eight similar passes in the first half."

"Is this Mancini’s deliberate tactical arrangement before the match?"

"Today, Tang Long seems different compared to before."

"Is he imitating the opponent De Bruyne?"

In the second half, after Tang Long lost the ball again.

Though Icardi still encouraged him with a thumbs-up as usual.

On the sidelines, Mancini appeared quite upset.

He shouted at Tang Long, "Hey! What are you doing, stop playing with that silly Ground Strike, play the football you’re skilled at!"

Fortunately, when Tang Long decided to stop using Ground Strike after completing 10 passes today, luck befell him!

In the 58th minute of the second half, Tang Long delivered a Ground Strike to the wing, the curve wasn’t controlled well, it bypassed Icardi.

Just as Mancini was cursing furiously from the sidelines.

With a bang, the ball bypassed the advancing goalkeeper and hit the post~

Faced with the ball unexpectedly rebounding to his face, Icardi instinctively used his instep to tuck it into the empty net.

Haha, I pulled the ball over!

He suddenly turned, ran to the sideline, clenched his fists, and pounded his chest fiercely!

With the home crowd’s cheers, each strike was accompanied by a deep growl; that was joy and pride released from the heart.

"Tang! Your pass was a ... ah well, it was good, well-done!!"

Mancini’s curse words stuck in his throat, swallowed back, and he clapped in praise.

This goal sent trailing Genoa into a defensive frenzy.

Once they pushed forward, Inter had even more chances.

Shaqiri scored again in the 78th minute, totally killing off the game.

This result was naturally a joy for all.

After winning the game, Mancini was still very happy at the post-match press conference.

When reporters asked Inter’s head coach why Tang Long altered his playing style and frequently used long passes.

Mancini expressed it very tactfully!

"Youngsters need to try different challenges; it’s beneficial for their growth, of course, but they shouldn’t forget their own characteristics for that."

Mancini’s words gently served as a reminder for Tang Long~

This is Serie A, not training, and every action is for winning.

But there’s no choice, the De Bruyne template is incomplete due to insufficient initial feeding video materials.

Can’t possibly ask De Bruyne himself to come over to demonstrate and supplement the feeding material, right!

Tang Long even consulted Inter’s first-team coaching staff on this.

Yet the common response from the coaches was, to kick Ground Strike like De Bruyne requires talent, and acquired training only accounts for a small part.

Otherwise, why are only a few like De Bruyne among many passing masters in the world.

So Tang Long can only remain on the training ground after Monday’s session, practicing Ground Strike alone.

There’s no way he’s giving up on this skill; once mastered, it’s surely an incredible weapon!

Even after teammates left, Tang Long kept training alone.

Bang bang bang——

Bang bang bang——

Loud sounds echoed on the field.

"Hey, look, you scared the sparrows from the oak forest!"

Berni, wearing big headphones, with a messenger bag, unexpectedly in dark green beach shorts, dragging red clipboards, somehow walked over.

His hands in his pockets, he looked at Tang Long with a smile.

"Looks like you’re imitating De Bruyne’s passing? Need my help?"