Greatest of All Legends

Chapter 585: 3rd National Appearance V

“Abdullahi will be coming on for Jason in the second half and the formation will be shifting to 4-5-1 with the wide midfielders falling back to assist with keeping possession in the center,” Rohr began the halftime tactical meeting while the players rested their bodies.

Jason’s eyes widened and he almost spat out the water he was drinking, but the bottle in his mouth prevented any sudden movements.

‘What the hell was this guy thinking?’ Jason wondered.

He knew that he had gone against the manager’s orders to defend, but that was only because he saw a clear chance for a counter attack and couldn’t bear to let it slide.

Sure, he disobeyed the manager’s orders, but he didn’t think it deserved him being taken off at halftime.

However, since he knew that he was also in the wrong by going against the manager’s tactics, he decided to stay silent, after all, no manager liked it when their players went against the team’s tactics.

They might not say too much when things were going well, but the moment things went bad, it would only end badly for the player.

Seeing that Jason didn’t say a word, Rohr opened his mouth to continue speaking.

He has half expected Jason to complain, but it was better now that he stayed silent.

“I want a solid shape in the center,”

“Stick to your positions and keep the ball moving, I want a structured flow as we keep the ball and move forward,”

“You are all responsible for various places on the pitch so stay in your positions and do your duties,” Rohr continued explaining to the players what he wanted from them in the second half, but at this point, Jason had droned off and was no longer listening.

All this no longer concerned him anymore since he would be on the bench.

He put his focus on regulating his breathing and took off his jersey and put on a training vest instead.

When the halftime period finally ran out, the players began heading out and Jason was one of the earliest to leave.

While the players began heading out, Musa, the team captain, slowed down his pace and sidled up to the manager.

“Was subbing Jason off really necessary, coach?” He asked the manager.

“Are you questioning my decision?” Rohr asked, triggered by the team captain’s question.

“What!? No!” Musa replied alarmedly confused as to why the manager’s reaction was so vicious.

“I just think you could have handled the situation a little differently,” Musa continued.

” Oh? So how do you think I should have handled it?” The manager asked the team captain.

“I understand that he went against the tactics, but I don’t think he deserves to be taken off for that,” Musa reiterated.

“And who says that I took him off because he went against the tactics?” Rohr asked a question that sent the captain into confusion.

‘So then, why?’ Musa wondered internally.

“Sure, he went against the tactics, but because of it, we’re two goals up. I’m not petty enough to target a good player because he doesn’t follow the textbook,”

“Most good footballers don’t follow the textbook, otherwise they’d be average and Jason is obviously such a player which is good for the team,”

“My actual reasons for substituting him was to give the other guys minutes on the pitch, after all, one doesn’t get selected by their country every time,”

“Since we’re already two goals up, I think it’s safe enough to do this and originally I planned to do it in the second half after we either scored another goal , or when I think it was a safe period,” Rohr explained to Musa.

“So then why did you make it seem like you were targeting him. Couldn’t you have just cleared this up with us during the break?” Musa asked.

“No, I had my own reasons for doing that. Not following tactics to the letter is a good trait for players whose talent are enough to overcome that,”

“But if a player starts to feel that he is bigger than the manager’s tactics or the team, then they wouldn’t be at the top of their game for very long,”

“Making him know that there can be a consequence for not following the tactics would only help his development,” Rohr told Musa.

“Oh, I understand it now,” Musa muttered, deep in thought.

“Good, so don’t say a word about it to him for now. Now get out there, the game is not over,” Rohr said, patting him on the back and pushing him forward.

“I don’t get paid enough for this sh*t,” Rohr muttered as he slowly walked out of the tunnel as well.

***

*Fweeeeeeeeee*

{The first half has been put behind and the second half has kicked off}

{The Supa Eagles begin the second half with a two goal lead over their opponents and they will be hoping to continue their good performance from where they stopped}

{They will also be hoping to keep their opponents away from their goal}

{There have definitely been some changes after the half, both visible and invisible, but the most obvious change is that Jason is no longer on the pitch}

{The manager seems to think that he will no longer be needed on the pitch for the rest of the game}

{Taking him off after that banger he scored in the first half is something the fans might have a problem with, but he’s the manager. He calls the shots, let’s see where this match goes on from here}

The commentator did his job as the game resumed and the players of the two team resumed their battle for the three points that was up for grabs should they win the game.

A few minutes into the game, it was clear that the Nigerian team was still playing defensively, but if was less than before.

The focus seemed to have changed from keeping the opponents away from their goal to keeping the ball among themselves.

It was a sort of defensive possession game, but every so often, they went on the attack, trying to get another goal past their opponents.

In doing this, they kept their opponents on their feet and did not allow them to settle properly on the ball.

Slowly, the clock ran down and the managers began to make more and more substitutions, but despite all this, neither of the two teams managed to send the crowd into frenzied excitement.

#82nd minute…

{Eight minutes is all that is left of the ninety, yet the scores remain two nil in favor of the Supa Eagles}

{The opposing fans are gradually going quiet, no longer able to find the energy to cheer for their players}

{The Benin players have not been up to par today, they have been second best at everything and is probably why they are two behind}

{However, they’ve not given up}

{It’s part of the game, but they still believe that they can get something from this game}

{They’re sending players forward however they can}

{Will they get a reward for their actions or will the Supa Eagles take this chance to punish them even further} the commentator spoke clearly into the microphone as he watched the Benin players sending more and more players forward.

Their passes seemed to be getting faster and smoother too, probably an effect of desperation setting in.

The Nigerian players however followed the ball as much as they could, doing their best to keep following their opponents movements.

Suddenly, perhaps because of desperation, Aina put a foot wrong and allowed his marker to get in behind him.

The Benin player with the ball wasn’t going to let that go and immediately sent the ball behind the Nigerian team’s defense.

The Nigerian defenders immediately raised their hands for offside, but the flag stayed down and Benin left winger trapped the ball cleverly on the left flank with his first touch and almost immediately sent a cross in with his second touch.

The Benin striker immediately lunged at the ball in a flying tackle position and caught the ball on his leg, sending it flying at the Nigerian goal.

Maduka made a dive immediately, trying to reach for the ball, but the ball somehow managed to make it between his hands despite touching his gloved palms.

{Oh! What a goal!}

{They have one back!}

{Could this be a lifeline!} The commentator shouted loudly while Banin players quickly took the ball and began to head back to their half of the field.

{How unlucky for the Nigerian right back}

{He has been doing his best and had not put a foot wrong all game, but this seemed to have just happened!}

{The Nigerian players are still arguing for an offside call, but it seems the goal will stand}

{Let’s take a look at the replay on that!} The commentator said and the replay immediately began to play on the screen.

The replay of the goal quickly began on the screen and when it reached the point of the pass coming in, the replay was paused.