Became The Premier League’S Youngest Manager [EN]: Chapter 54

54. A Great Victory and a Fierce Battle

After splitting a win apiece in their previous encounters earlier in the season, Burnley and Tottenham faced off at Turf Moor, Burnley’s home ground, for the 23rd round of the Premier League.

Tottenham, under manager Antonio Conte, deployed a 3-4-3 formation, emphasizing a three-man defensive line, while Burnley responded with their familiar 4-3-3.

For Tottenham, Hugo Lloris started in goal, with Cristian Romero, Eric Dier, and Ben Davies forming the defensive line from right to left.

The midfield consisted of Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur, a winter transfer window loan acquisition from Juventus, with Matt Doherty and Sergio Reguilón positioned as right and left wing-backs, respectively.

The attack was spearheaded by Harry Kane, flanked by Lucas Moura on the right and Son Heung-min on the left.

Burnley, however, was without James Tarkowski due to a minor injury. Nick Pope was in goal, with Matt Lowton, Oscar Mingueza, Ben Mee, and Charlie Taylor lined up across the back.

The midfield trio comprised Nicolas Seiwald, Nico Gonzalez, and Josh Brownhill.

And the attack, still missing Chris Wood after his transfer, featured Karim Adeyemi, Jay Rodriguez, and Dwight McNeil from right to left.

Before the game commenced.

The Burnley players gathered in their locker room, listening intently as their manager delivered his final tactical instructions.

“As you all know from our first match against them this season, Tottenham is a very tricky team. Moreover, with Conte having coached them for several months since then, his tactics have been further ingrained, making their style even more defined.”

The Burnley players nodded, their expressions tense.

“But at least Højbjerg won’t be taking those ridiculous long-range shots or making those fake passes, so you don’t have to worry about that.”

Low laughter rippled through the locker room, slightly easing the tension.

Pleased to see the smiles returning to the players’ faces after his attempt at levity, Hyung-min continued his instructions.

“Today, the midfield battle is key. After all, the opponent is using a three-back system, and if necessary, they can call upon the wing-backs to defend, forming a defensive line of up to five players. With the opponent’s defenders potentially numbering three to five inside the penalty box, it will be nearly impossible for us to break through by simply charging in.”

Hyung-min gestured towards the tactical board behind him.

“So today’s midfield composition is Nico, Brownie, and Niki. Don’t try to penetrate directly into the penalty box; instead, break through with passes from the outside. Especially Nico and Brownie’s roles are important. If necessary, take long-range shots to draw the opponent’s defenders out. And Niki.”

“Yes!”

“Today, Niki, don’t even think about entering the opponent’s penalty box. Occupy the space between our penalty box and theirs. Both Højbjerg and Bentancur are very active and quite combative, so suppressing them is key.”

“Understood.”

As the young midfielder nodded solemnly, Hyung-min turned his attention to the defense.

Oscar Mingueza was hastily substituted in after James Tarkowski reported muscle pain during warm-ups.

James Tarkowski’s injury and the prospect of starting Ben Mee and Oscar Mingueza, who had never played together before, against Tottenham’s Harry Kane and Son Heung-min were unsettling.

Would it have been better to put Nathan Collins in instead of Oscar Mingueza?

Unfortunately, Nathan didn’t possess Oscar’s passing ability, and if Nathan Collins and Ben Mee formed the central defense, there would be no one to effectively distribute the ball forward from the defensive zone.

Already too late to change anything, Hyung-min tried to ignore the lingering doubt and the churning in his stomach, striving to maintain his composure.

“The reason Tottenham has been able to accumulate points despite their defensive vulnerabilities is the strength of their attack, spearheaded by Harry Kane and Son Heung-min. Harry Kane is a powerful, all-around attacker capable of anything, and Son Heung-min is fast and can use both feet effectively, making it difficult to limit his angles. On top of that, Lucas Moura has been in great form recently.”

Oscar Mingueza, looking nervous, nodded along with the veteran defenders, who were focused intently.

“Today, Charlie and Matt, focus more on containing the opponent’s wing-backs rather than joining the attack. The situation will evolve from moment to moment, but generally, Ben will mark Harry Kane, and Oscar will mark Son Heung-min.”

The tenacious Ben Mee would mark the opponent’s central attacker, who was also adept at physical play, and Oscar Mingueza, the fastest of the defenders, would mark the speedy Son Heung-min.

It sounded good in theory, but wouldn’t that leave someone open?

Before the players could voice their concerns, Hyung-min addressed the issue.

“That leaves Lucas Moura open. I know. That’s why Nico, don’t push too far forward, even during our attacking phases. When Tottenham’s attack develops, Nico will essentially be marking Lucas Moura.”

This would significantly increase Nico Gonzalez’s workload, requiring him to track back to the defensive zone during counterattacks, but if Nicolas Seiwald was positioned more defensively, Tottenham’s central midfielders, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur, would be given too much space.

A plan devised after countless video replays with the coaching and analysis staff over the past week.

Even though football is unpredictable, and despite a key defender being sidelined before the game even started, Hyung-min forced a calm expression and looked around at his team, who wore tense expressions.

“But remember. Responding to the opponent is important, but the most important thing is…”

The players leaned forward, listening to the manager’s voice, which had lowered slightly to emphasize his point.

“…to play our game. We are Burnley Football Club. And this is our home ground, Turf Moor. Now, let’s go out there and show the opposing team what we’re made of for the fans who have gathered to support us!”

“…Yeah!”

“…Let’s do it!”

Unlike usual, the players erupted in shouts filled with firm resolve at the manager’s encouragement, which carried a palpable force.

Ben Mee, the captain, nodded slightly to the manager, who returned the gesture, then stood up and addressed the team.

“Alright, then let’s go out there and show those gentlemen from London the grit of the country bumpkins from Burnley! For ever and ever! Who are we?”

“We are Burnley!”

***

No one likes us

We don’t care

We are Burnley

Super Burnley

We are Burnley

From the Moor

As the Burnley fans chanted their support loudly, the Tottenham players, who had adapted well to Antonio Conte’s system, struggled to impose themselves in the early stages of the game at the home ground of the “country bumpkins,” just as Captain Ben Mee had predicted.

Immediately after the game started.

Burnley and Tottenham, as if by unspoken agreement, had all their outfield players congregated within a 15-meter radius before and after the halfway line, engaging in a fierce battle for dominance.

The ball was won and lost, then won and lost again in the midfield.

Defenders and attackers alike flocked to support their midfielders, and 20 men with sturdy physiques kicked and collided with the ball and each other in a confined space, roughly one-third of the entire field, 50 meters wide and 30 meters long.

Then, when the ball broke free, the players surged up and down, attempting to probe the opponent’s territory.

That’s how the game unfolded, and in the 7th minute, while both teams were still feeling each other out,

Burnley created the first opening.

With Burnley’s three attackers pressing Tottenham’s three central defenders, and Burnley’s fullbacks challenging Tottenham’s wing-backs who pushed up to defend.

Ben Davies, the left-sided of Tottenham’s central defenders, barely evaded the press from Burnley’s right-sided attacker Karim Adeyemi and sent a pass towards the midfield.

However, both Rodrigo Bentancur and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg hesitated, unsure of the intended recipient of the slightly ambiguous pass.

Nicolas Seiwald, anticipating the opportunity to intercept the opponent’s attack, quickly pounced and stole the ball.

This scenario had been repeated several times since the game began.

As Tottenham’s attackers and midfielders rushed in to try to win the ball back, Tottenham’s defenders solidified their positions on the edge of the penalty box.

As Hyung-min had pointed out, Tottenham’s defense was individually strong, and five players could flexibly form a defensive line or retreat into the penalty box.

However, Nico Gonzalez, receiving a pass from Nicolas Seiwald, threaded a subtle long pass to Karim Adeyemi, who was attempting to exploit the space between Tottenham’s left wing-back Sergio Reguilón and central defender Ben Davies.

“Karim!”

“Support me!”

With the defensive line breached by Nico Gonzalez’s pass, Sergio Reguilón called for support while trying to contain Karim Adeyemi.

“Watch the other side too!”

Tottenham’s goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, observing the situation, warned the defenders against rash movements.

As he warned, Ben Davies shifted to the left side of the penalty box in response to Sergio Reguilón’s call, while on the opposite side, Burnley’s side attacker Dwight McNeil was attempting a penetrating run.

Therefore, Tottenham’s right wing-back Matt Doherty and central defender Cristian Romero, who was positioned nearby, moved towards that side.

As a result, only Eric Dier remained in the center of Tottenham’s penalty box, leaving the defense vulnerable.

And Jay Rodriguez, Burnley’s central attacker, stuck to Eric Dier, pressuring and checking him, while Karim Adeyemi, his path blocked by two Tottenham defenders, turned and sent a back pass towards the penalty arc.

Rodrigo Bentancur and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, Tottenham’s midfielders who were hurrying back to defend, and Josh Brownhill and Nicolas Seiwald, Burnley’s players who were trying to join the attack, and even Nico Gonzalez were all converging on that spot.

However, Burnley’s players, temporarily gaining a 3-on-2 advantage, managed to delay Rodrigo Bentancur and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg by Nicolas Seiwald and Josh Brownhill engaging in shoulder-to-shoulder battles.

Creating an opportunity for Nico Gonzalez.

“Nico! Go!”

Josh Brownhill, who collided with Pierre-Emile Højbjerg’s sturdy physique and fell to the ground, shouted while lying on the grass, buying his teammate a precious 0.5 seconds.

A time so fleeting it was barely a breath, but Nico Gonzalez, presented with a chance in a completely free state.

The young midfielder, once cherished by Barcelona, held his breath and focused intently on the ball rolling towards him before unleashing a shot with his right foot.

It was a clean strike.

The moment the ball connected with his foot, Nico Gonzalez, filled with confidence, raised both arms, and the spectators, captivated by his movement, rose to their feet in unison.

The ball, flying fiercely just inches above the grass but arcing upwards, eluded the outstretched fingertips of Tottenham’s goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and nestled into the upper right corner of the goal.

“Aaaaaah!!!”

Turf Moor erupted in cheers as the goal net billowed, as if tearing apart.