After Paris Saint-Germain was removed from the list, I led England to victory!

After several days of almost non-stop analysis, deduction, and repeated self-doubt.

Nagelsmann has finally made the crucial moves in his strategy to deal with Manchester City.

As the head coach, he understood that Hoffenheim was at a significant disadvantage compared to the red-hot Manchester City in terms of both paper strength and individual player ability.

To challenge Guardiola's sophisticated machine on a stage like the Champions League quarterfinals, the only way is to excel in team tactics, execution, and surprise attacks.

A key discovery became the cornerstone of his new tactics.

It's Yan Yuan's untapped potential in midfield.

In daily training and past matches, especially when facing high-intensity pressure or needing to quickly change the pace.

Yan Yuan's qualities have long surpassed those of a pure winger.

Nash discovered that Yan Yuan had an exceptionally keen understanding of space and could always appear at key points for receiving or passing information.

His passing is concise and precise. Whether it's a short-range one-two or a long diagonal pass with a wide field of vision, it reveals a calmness and judgment beyond his years.

What's even more remarkable is his ability to use technique and rhythm changes to get rid of opponents in confined spaces and quickly direct the ball to dangerous areas.

These are all core qualities required of an excellent midfielder.

Based on this, Nagelsmann decided to carry out a tactical revolution.

He abandoned the formation that relied heavily on wing attacks under the three- or four-defender system that he had used in previous tough matches.

They then opted for a more controllable and flexible 4-3-3 formation.

This decision energized all the players.

In the tactical conference room, Nagelsmann's eyes gleamed with the fatigue of days of hard work, but even more so with the excitement ignited by new ideas.

He arranged the chess pieces clearly on the board using magnetic attraction:

"Guys, Manchester City is very strong, extremely strong."

Their passing and pressing is like an omnipresent net, and we must find a way to break through this net while avoiding being penetrated by their most effective flank attack.

So, we changed formation. 4-3-3!

He pointed to the three midfield positions on the tactics board.

"De Jong," he said, pointing to the defensive midfield position, "your position is crucial. I need you to be the shield in front of the defense and the hub for transitions between attack and defense."

Manchester City's pressing will be very high up the pitch, and their high press is very organized. You must stay calm and use your vision and passing ability to quickly and accurately pass the ball out to avoid their first wave of attacks.

Remember, safety first, but when the opportunity arises, be bold enough to push forward, especially to find gaps on the flanks.

"Yes, Coach!" De Jong nodded seriously. This position was not unfamiliar to him, but the pressure was much greater when facing an opponent like Manchester City.

"Amiri," Nagelsmann pointed to the left winger position.

"Your task is to connect and cover, assist Frenkie in defensive interception, protect this flank, and actively move forward to participate in the attack."

Especially when an attack is launched down the left flank, you need to quickly overlap or cut inside to receive the pass and create a local numerical advantage. Your movement and explosiveness are our key energy sources.

"Understood, Coach!" Amiri's eyes gleamed with the fire of battle as he clenched his fist tightly.

Finally, Nagelsmann's gaze fell on Yan Yuan, filled with unprecedented trust and expectation.

"Yan," he solemnly pointed to the right wing position, "this position is your new battlefield."

All eyes in the conference room were on Yan Yuan.

Moving back from his usual right winger position to the right side of the midfield is a huge role change.

"I've been observing you for a long time. Your ability to read the game, your passing vision, and how you handle the ball under pressure all prove that you are fully capable of playing here." Nagelsmann walked to Yan Yuan's side and pointed to the tactics board.

"Here, your task is not simply to break forward and score, but to become one of the core drivers of our midfield."

"First," he explained in detail, "use your off-the-ball movement to find space in the midfield and attacking third, especially between Manchester City's two center-backs and defensive midfielders, or in the junction between the full-backs and center-backs."

Your instincts need to be as sharp as they are in the penalty area, to find those gaps where you can receive the ball and create opportunities for play.

"Secondly," Nagelsmann emphasized, "your vision and passing will be crucial weapons in breaking down Manchester City's defense."

When De Jong safely retrieves the ball, and when Nadim or a winger runs out of position, I need you to deliver the ball accurately into the open space immediately.

Whether it's a through pass to the winger, a diagonal pass to a teammate making a forward run, or even a sudden long pass behind the defense when the rhythm changes, you must be decisive and accurate!

Remember, Manchester City's defense is pushed very high, leaving huge spaces behind them! Your pass is the key to unlocking our fast counter-attacks!

"Third," he continued, "in the instant the ball transitions from attack to defense, I need you and Nadim to immediately disrupt or even counter-press Manchester City's midfielders carrying the ball, slowing down their advance and preventing them from comfortably moving the ball forward."

Your speed and anticipation are equally important here.

"Fourth," a sly glint flashed in Nagelsmann's eyes,

"That's not all. During the game, depending on the situation on the board, I may ask you to make flexible adjustments to your position." He demonstrated the dynamic changes to Yan Yuan using magnetic chess pieces.

"For example, when we gain possession of the ball for a long time, or when we need to strengthen our penetration through the middle, you can move forward and switch to the attacking midfielder role in a 4-3-3 system."

Directly confront Manchester City's defensive midfielder and use your skills and dribbling to try and create scoring opportunities in the key area!

Similarly, if we need to strengthen our defense, or if the opponent focuses their attack on one side, you may need to drop back deeper to assist the full-backs in defense.

Your position will be fluid, multifunctional, and free—the most flexible point in the entire system!

Nash gave Yan Yuan an extremely important tactical position and greater freedom, but this also brought enormous challenges.

He needs to constantly read the game, understand the coach's tactical intentions, and seamlessly switch between different responsibilities.

Yan Yuan listened attentively, his eyes fixed on the piece representing him moving in different areas on the tactics board.

The midfield, a broader and more complex stage, is precisely the area he subconsciously longs to try and prove himself in.

He nodded vigorously:

"Understood, Coach! I will do my best!"

Nagelsmann patted Yan Yuan on the shoulder with satisfaction, then looked around the room:

"Everyone remembers that this is not just Yan's new task."

Full-backs, you need to be more careful with your forward runs, especially watch out for Manchester City wingers cutting inside;

The central defensive pairing needs to communicate more closely and control the offside line with extreme precision;

Forwards, drop deeper and be more aggressive in receiving passes to create space for Yan and Nadim to make forward runs... Everyone needs to understand their role in the new system and how to coordinate with their teammates!

The tactical explanations were in-depth and detailed, and everyone was given a new mission and responsibility.

With the theoretical explanations finished, the real test begins on the training field.

In the latest scrimmage, the substitutes wore blue vests, symbolizing Manchester City, and tried to imitate the Blue Moon's passing, possession, and high-pressing style.

Nagelsmann specifically instructed several players to keep putting pressure on Yan Yuan, as he wanted to see his protégé make decisions under pressure.

Yan Yuan stood in the right midfield position.

He noticed a clear difference shortly after the start.

Today, he no longer has the wide open space on the flanks to roam as he did when he played as a right winger.

He is now more often surrounded by the dense network woven by the opponent's midfield and defense.

Every time Yan Yuan receives the ball, he is almost immediately surrounded by one or two defensive players, with a pressing intensity and speed far exceeding the pressure of the league.

However, under pressure, the qualities that Nagelsmann had hoped for began to shine.

During the scrimmage, De Jong broke free of his marker in the backfield and passed the ball diagonally to Yan Yuan, who had dropped back to receive it.

With his back to the direction of the attack, Yan Yuan immediately felt the pressure from the defender behind him.

He didn't panic. Instead, he keenly noticed out of the corner of his eye that Amiri was making a high-speed forward run on the left wing, while the winger on the far right wing was also quietly starting his run.

Just as the opponent lunged forward with his foot, Yan Yuan deftly flicked and hooked the ball with the inside of his right foot, making a nimble turn that not only freed him from the pressure but also positioned his body to face the direction of the attack.

Without pausing for a moment, he sent out a long diagonal pass of more than 20 meters with the outside of his left foot!

This long diagonal pass was thanks to Pharaoh's inverted foot curveball skill, which Yan Yuan learned from Pharaoh's shooting skills.

The ball drew a beautiful arc and landed perfectly in front of the left-wing teammate who was making a high-speed run.

A highly threatening rapid transfer instantly tore apart the simulated Manchester City defense!

"Good shot!" Nagelsmann couldn't help but shout from the sidelines, a glint of light in his eyes.

In another attack, Hoffenheim successfully intercepted the ball in their own half, and Yan Yuan received the ball near the center circle.

He keenly observed the vast depth left by the Manchester City defense as they pushed forward, and also saw that his own forwards were already starting to move forward.

Without hesitation, before the opposing defensive midfielder could fully position himself to block the passing lane, Yan Yuan thrust his right foot forward with a powerful push!

A powerful, precise through ball pierced the narrow gap between the opposing center-backs like a scalpel.

The striker understood immediately and went one-on-one with the goalkeeper!

Although the final shot was saved by the simulated goalkeeper, the penetrating pass drew gasps of amazement from the coaching staff and substitutes on the sidelines.

In the subsequent positional battles, Yan Yuan also demonstrated his potential as a midfield organizer.

He repeatedly received passes and laid them off in the right-hand area of ​​the middle, forming a triangular passing pattern with De Jong and Amiri, patiently passing the ball around and looking for gaps in the opponent's defense.

After a brilliant one-two pass, he cleverly distributed the ball to the overlapping right-back, who was able to deliver a high-quality cross.

On another occasion, he noticed a brief disconnect between the opponent's left-back and center-back, decisively moved forward, received a pass from his teammate, and made a clever change of direction to break into the penalty area. His shot from a tight angle was saved and went out of bounds.

When Nagelsmann signaled a change in formation during training, asking Yan Yuan to move forward and play the role of attacking midfielder, he displayed a different kind of threat.

Positioned further forward, he often faces double-teaming from the opposing defensive midfielder and defenders after receiving the ball.

He used his excellent footwork and rhythm changes to break free in a tight space, creating shooting opportunities for his teammates; he also tried more penetrating through balls, attempting to directly connect with the forwards.

Although his error rate increased slightly compared to when he was in a deeper position, the courage and creativity he displayed were exactly what Nagelsmann hoped to break the deadlock at certain points.

Throughout the match, Yan Yuan was extremely active and efficient in the midfield area.

He not only contributed several threatening passes and shots on the offensive end, but also actively tracked back on the defensive end, using his speed and agility to assist the full-backs in defense.

He is no longer just a winger, but a versatile attacking midfielder who connects the two ends of the offense and defense, capable of dribbling, passing, and shooting.

His presence greatly enhances the team's offensive depth and variability.

Nagelsmann stood on the sidelines, his hands in his training shirt pockets, looking focused, but a slight smile was playing on his lips.

His beloved student's performance completely met and even exceeded his expectations.

The young man's understanding and execution of the game, as well as his threat in key positions, have boosted Nagelsmann's confidence in defeating Manchester City.

While wiping his sweat with a towel, Yan Yuan discussed the details of their earlier teamwork with Amiri and De Jong beside him.

Nagelsmann walked over and clapped his hands:

"Great! Guys! How does it feel?"

"Great, coach! This tactic has potential!" De Jong answered on behalf of everyone, his tone filled with excitement.

"No problem, Coach, De Jong and Yan are working together very well!" Amiri replied with a smile.

Nagelsmann nodded in satisfaction and looked at Yan Yuan.

"Yan, how are you feeling? Your new position?"

Yan Yuan raised his head, his face flushed from exercise, his eyes bright:

"It takes time to adjust, Coach, but I feel... I do seem to be seeing a broader range of things than before."

I will continue to work hard to find better receiving points and better timing for passing the ball.

"Very good," Nagelsmann patted him approvingly on the shoulder. "Keep this attitude of learning and observation. Your vision is top-notch; use it boldly!"

The players walked toward the locker room one after another.

Yan Yuan packed up his equipment and prepared to leave.

As he passed the area where the coaching staff was, he saw Nagelsmann looking down and quickly jotting something down on a piece of paper, with the magnetic stickers he had just taken off the tactics board next to him.

Yan Yuan witnessed firsthand these past two days how his mentor had prepared for this crucial battle.

He poured almost all his energy into it, working day and night, studying opponents, designing tactics, and personally explaining, observing, and adjusting them on the training field.

Yan Yuan stopped, hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward and said in a low voice.

"Coach," he paused, "you've been working hard lately."

Nagelsmann looked up at Yan Yuan with some surprise.

The morning mist had dissipated, and sunlight streamed through the gaps in the awning, falling on Yan Yuan's young face and into his tired yet bright eyes.

He saw the gratitude and trust in his disciple's eyes, and Nagelsmann felt that his two nights of staying up late had not been in vain.

Nasser smiled, put down his pen, let out a soft breath, and reached out to press Yan Yuan's shoulder firmly.

"You've worked hard too, kid. Go back and get some rest, keep up the good work, and give your best performance next week!"