"Hey, Tang! Your pendulum dribble against Liverpool was amazing. How come I didn’t know you had this move before?"
During the following passing drills, Toure surprisingly didn’t partner with the French player Klichy but chose to stand with Tang Long instead.
"I just learned it recently and just started using it," Tang Long chatted while passing the ball with the inside of his foot with Toure.
In fact, Tang Long didn’t just learn it, but he indeed used it for the first time a moment ago. Back when he was playing in Serie A last year, Bonazzoli’s pendulum dribble in the 36th round of the league caught Tang Long’s attention. Since then, during his daily AI video learning sessions, besides focusing on observing forwards’ positioning, he added another task, which was learning the pendulum dribble.
However, this high-difficulty dribbling technique is used by very few players, and even fewer use it well, with Ronaldo being the only one. And Ronaldo didn’t use it in every match; after tearing his cruciate ligament at Inter, he used it even less to protect his fragile knees.
The video material Tang Long had was quite limited, so he didn’t use it lightly. As a result, the last game against Liverpool was the first time Tang Long used his secret move.
To be fair, the pendulum dribble is best used by forwards; Tang Long found it unsuitable when playing in midfield.
Because this move requires a certain amount of space to dribble, it’s often best used in one-on-one situations between a forward and a defender or goalkeeper. When Tang Long got the ball, someone was usually closely marking him, so the best approach was either to shield the ball or quickly push it into space, just like Toure often did.
"Oh? Just learned it, not bad."
Although Toure replied casually, he didn’t believe Tang Long’s words at all.
He had personally witnessed Tang Long’s move, which captured at least eighty percent of Ronaldo’s essence.
Without long and diligent practice, it would be impossible to achieve such a move.
Moreover, to execute it in such an important match against Liverpool, he dared to do it because he must have been very confident!
Toure thought, "Tang’s a tricky guy, not honest with me. Despite his young age, he has quite the depth of mind and must have a lot of tricks up his sleeve. Bony probably can’t beat him."
Even though Toure greatly admired Tang Long, believing the young man had immense potential and could become a world-class star,
he still had to make some small maneuvers for his own interests.
After training, Toure didn’t head to the locker room to shower but instead went straight to the head coach’s office.
During this training session, Pellegrini didn’t come downstairs to direct it but stayed in his office discussing an important issue with a few trusted first-team coaching staff members — Tang Long’s position.
"Oh, Toure’s here? Come, come, join the discussion. We’re having a hard time sorting out Tang Long’s position issue, you’re a big player on the team, what’s your opinion?"
Seeing Toure suddenly come into his office, Pellegrini was generous in inviting him to sit down.
Toure, as the undisputed midfield leader of Manchester City and the only player on the team who had once achieved a treble, held high esteem among the coaching staff.
Occasionally, when chatting with the coaches, he would also propose his tactical views, and the coaching staff members were willing to listen to his suggestions.
Sitting in Pellegrini’s office at present, Toure listened impassively as several first-team coaching staff members presented their suggestion of pushing Tang Long onto the frontline.
"Tang’s performance at the frontline surprised us. Our coaching staff believes that this young player has great potential to develop into a second striker."
"The next round is Agüero’s last game suspended, Tang Long should continue at the forward position to ensure goals."
"After all, neither Bony nor Iheanacho has scored in the last two starts, while Tang Long’s performance in the forward position is at least more reliable than either of them."
After the coaching staff finished their analysis, Pellegrini looked at Toure expectantly, wanting to hear his thoughts.
After all, while strategies are set by the coach, their execution is carried out by the players on the pitch.
No matter how good a tactic is, if it cannot be implemented by the players for any reason, it remains mere fantasy.
Toure nodded, took a sip of water, and didn’t immediately express his opinion, but his mind was racing.
He knew that the reason the head coach Pellegrini invited him in was that he must be having a dilemma in his heart.
Toure thought, "Pellegrini is already over sixty; from what I know of him, he’s never been a radical coach. Tactical innovation isn’t common for him, and the reason Manchester City’s possession and control tactics work so well now is because he inherited the tactical legacy left by Mancini."
He pondered further, "Pushing Tang to the frontline certainly helps with scoring, but all tactics require a balance. Maybe I can use this point to persuade Pellegrini to keep Tang locked in the midfield position."
Toure said, "I believe pushing Tang to the frontline shouldn’t become a regular choice! He’s doing quite well in the attacking midfielder position. Whether it’s controlling the tempo or the accuracy of his passes, he’s an essential component of our Manchester City possession-based tactics. Sure, putting him up front has its advantages, but who will pass the ball in midfield?"