Football: My AI System Provides Max-Level Predictions
Chapter 96: All the way forward with great momentum, sprinting toward the season’s initial KPI!

Chapter 96: Chapter 96: All the way forward with great momentum, sprinting toward the season’s initial KPI!

Why is the Czech veteran coach Zeman so furious?

Zeman has always been straightforward, saying what he means without any disguise.

But this time, he was played very badly by Mancini~

As it turned out, early after Inter was held to a draw by Florence in the last round.

Amidst calls from former stars and major media outlets for Icardi’s return, Mancini righteously replied:

"Podolski played well as a lone striker, and he will continue to start in the next round!"

The implication was that Icardi would continue to be sidelined.

The next round’s opponent Zeman believed it too!

He thought Icardi would be like Gualin before and would be sidelined for at least three matches for unspeakable "technical reasons".

After all, the scandal of the Argentine forward and Mancini pulling each other on the training ground was well known across the Italian football world.

Based on his understanding of Mancini, Zeman believed that even if Mancini was stubborn, he would tough it out for at least a few matches.

Zeman was delighted and meticulously studied the match between Inter and Florence.

Podolski, playing as a lone striker in a 4-2-3-1 formation, did not perform well, marked out by the strong center-backs of the Purple Lily players.

The Czech veteran coach decided to copy Florence’s tactics.

The goal was to get one point at Meazza and strive to escape the relegation zone.

When the roster was announced, Icardi was surprisingly on the list!

Zeman was shocked, thinking Mancini tricked him, feeling uneasy because for a week, their tactical training targeting Inter focused on Podolski, with no preparation for Icardi.

An hour before the game, Zeman got Inter’s starting lineup, and luckily, Icardi wasn’t starting!

Haha, Mancini, oh Mancini, seems like you couldn’t swallow your pride, then don’t blame me, Zeman, for making you swallow a bitter pill.

As the players entered the field, Zeman immediately spotted Icardi, energetically in the squad.

Zeman thought his old eyes, at 70 years old, were playing tricks on him and after confirming several times with his assistant coach, he angrily complained to the officials: "Referee! Inter’s submitted starting lineup does not match the actual players on the field; Icardi is ineligible to play. Please penalize them with a 0-3 loss!"

Unexpectedly, the fourth official gave him a disdainful look, "Sir, this season’s Serie A rules changed early on. The starting lineup can be changed up to the very last second before the match starts. Mancini submitted the latest lineup with Icardi just ten minutes ago!"

Zeman, both anxious and angry, looked back to find Mancini smiling at him.

"Mancini! You liar! You did this on purpose, didn’t you?" Zeman yelled, pointing at Mancini’s nose.

"Don’t stress, veteran Zeman, because it’s still early, and when the match starts, and Inter thrashes your team, you will be in even more distress!" Mancini maintained a smiling, gentlemanly demeanor.

"You’re ungrateful! Have you forgotten ten years ago when the phone-hacking scandal broke, who was it that staunchly supported you, helping you berate Juventus?"

"You also know that was ten years ago."

Zeman was so furious that steam seemed to be coming from his head, and his nose almost twisted.

Eventually, Cagliari left Meazza with a disastrous 0-3 loss, slinking away dejectedly.

Unlike the veteran Zeman, who spent a full half-hour at the press conference berating Mancini as ungrateful, dishonest, immoral, and a hypocrite.

Mancini, in contrast, was described by the media as a coach with a strategic mind~

The Milan Sports News even compared him to Urban II, the key figure in launching the substantial crusade, employing cunning strategies to restore the authority of the Holy Roman Empire.

Such statements reached their peak after the 22nd round of Serie A, where as guests, Inter again won 3-0, crushing another relegation team, Parma!

Inter played exceptionally well under Mancini’s guidance, scoring twice in the first 20 minutes with Gualin’s two fierce long-distance shots from outside the penalty area in the first half. Notably, in the 35th minute, Tang Long’s penetrating surgical pass allowed Podolski to tear through the opponent’s defense, leading to a foul in the penalty area and winning a penalty.

This time, Podolski smiled and tossed the ball to Icardi, and after scoring, Icardi was the first to give him a hug.

The media exclaimed that the two had completely reconciled!

The second half was completely just coasting, with Tang Long, Icardi, and Podolski being substituted one after the other, getting valuable rest time.

No fear of not winning, just fear that the competitors don’t slip up—Florence slipped up this round!

They were held to a draw by AC Milan at home.

Thanks to the help of their city rivals, Inter finally moved up in the standings, advancing from 6th to 5th!

Just two ranks away from their season-start KPI goal of reaching the top three to secure a direct Champions League spot for next season.

Some say that Mancini was wise and mature not to hold a grudge, allowing Icardi back as a starter after just a one-match suspension.

He’s no longer the same guy from seven years ago, who shouted about resigning at the press conference after losing to Liverpool in the Champions League’s round of 16.

But more people believe that the success of Mancini lies in solidifying Tang Long’s starting position!

As the Dutchman Sneijder said in the Inter treble chat group:

"Have you noticed? Now Inter’s attack isn’t that the midfield adapts to the strikers, but the strikers adapt to the midfield. Whoever can understand Tang’s passing intentions and syncs up with the passing will score; otherwise, they won’t. Icardi did it, so he scored, and with him scoring, we keep winning!"

The cheetah Eto’o said in the group: "I’ve studied Tang’s passes carefully and found that every misplaced pass was actually the forward’s problem, either starting too slowly or going in the wrong direction, while Tang’s passes were always on the theoretically best line in football!"

The group was abuzz with lively discussions.

Among these people, some have long retired and transitioned to being commentators and coaches.

Some are still active on the playing fields of the top five European leagues, shining in the twilight of their careers and enjoying pure football matches.

Chiwo, who usually stayed silent and only chimed in about once a month, suddenly popped up and said:

"Welcome all the bigshots to Wolfsburg on Wednesday, where we will play the UEFA Europa League round of 16 away. If you want tickets, please reply in order; only 10 tickets are available, don’t ask me for more once they’re gone."

Milito: "Haha, a famous Inter coach giving away tickets online! I want one!"

Cambiasso: "I want one!"

Stankovic: "I want one too!"

Motta: "Can I have two?"

Materazzi: "Chiwo, what are you showing off for? I’ll just ask Mancini directly; I don’t care about your tickets, alright?"