Soccer: I’m Building a Giant in the Premier League

Chapter 12 – Our Coach Is a Genius!

On the first day of summer training camp, Yang Cheng delivered a massive shock to the entire squad.

"Let me reintroduce myself. I'm Yang Cheng—and I'll be your head coach this season!"

All 23 players standing before him were left dumbfounded.

Sure, the signs had been there. It was obvious the young club owner was heavily involved in football matters. But no one—not a single one—had imagined that he himself would become the head coach.

It was absurd.

How old was he, even?

Did he even have a coaching license?

After all, ever since Adam Crozier reformed the FA's coaching system, the requirements for head coaches had become strict and explicit.

At 23, Yang Cheng clearly didn't meet the qualifications.

Not just the players—even the coaching staff behind him had mixed and awkward expressions on their faces.

When they had first heard about Yang Cheng's decision, their reactions had been even more extreme than the players'.

Except for Brian Kidd.

Yes—Yang Cheng had a plan.

He didn't have the proper licenses, so he would register Brian Kidd as the official head coach.

Thus, Kidd was the first to know about Yang Cheng's intentions.

And somehow, after hearing Yang's pitch, Brian Kidd was completely convinced. He truly believed Yang Cheng had the potential to shock the world—a bona fide coaching genius.

After spending time with him during the preseason setup, Seth Forsett and Oliver Bartlett had also come to respect Yang Cheng's knowledge and vision.

Now, it was the players' turn.

But the most shocked of all was Lin Zhongqiu.

His young master, fresh out of university, suddenly announcing himself as a head coach?

Wasn't Brian Kidd supposed to be in charge?

This was utter madness.

But Yang Cheng didn't bother explaining. He had no time to worry about everyone's internal thoughts.

With unwavering confidence, he laid out the club's target for the season.

"We will win the title and get promoted to the Championship!"

His tone was so sure, so commanding, that it was hard not to believe him.

"My confidence comes from the players standing before me—and the staff standing behind me."

"You may be unknown now. You may not yet have the strength to succeed. You may lack the conditions to win. Maybe…"

He paused, then dramatically swung his right hand, as if throwing away all the doubts and hesitations in the room.

"None of that matters!"

"Here, at Bayswater Chinese FC, each one of you will get the chance to become who you want to be!"

"But only if you work for it. Only if you push yourselves to your absolute limit."

Yang Cheng then laid out his selection principles.

At Bayswater Chinese FC, no one was guaranteed a starting spot.

Everyone would have to earn their place through performance and attitude.

"Here, attitude is everything."

Lastly, he warned the players that summer camp would be intense—much tougher than most League Two or even League One teams.

"Only high-level training can forge a high-level, competitive team."

"When you make it through this preseason, and look back—you'll be proud of every drop of sweat you've shed."

"And that pride will fuel your confidence!"

…

In his past life, Yang Cheng had started coaching in Germany's second division and had worked in the lower leagues.

He knew very well that many lower-division players were not lacking in ability.

Most came through professional academies and had solid fundamentals.

Take Steve Jenkins, the Welsh international.

Nearly 31, Jenkins was a dependable right back—but slow. At just 1.81 meters, he moved like he was 2.01.

Oddly enough, he had a brilliant cross from the right, but the rest of his technical skills were average.

Such obvious strengths and weaknesses, combined with age, had kept his career from progressing.

Then there was Martin Rowlands.

Now 24, Rowlands had made his debut for Brentford's senior team at 18 and had been a League Two starter at 19, making a splash his rookie season.

But early fame was followed by injuries and managerial instability. Over the past two seasons, his form plummeted, and he lost his starting spot.

Yet in terms of pure ability, Rowlands was perhaps the most complete midfielder at Bayswater Chinese FC.

Strong at both ends, with a stunning long pass and free kick.

Then there was center-back Roger Johnson.

At 20, the English defender stood at 1.91 meters, rock-solid in defense.

Other than some rough footwork, Johnson was a well-rounded defender.

He came from lower-league Wycombe and had been scooped up by Yang Cheng.

Yang understood that if trained properly, this group of players could become a formidable force.

And the key to unlocking their potential?

Better training. Physical development. Mentality.

What surprised the players was that Yang Cheng's sessions weren't the usual endless running or repetitive drills.

Most were ball-based.

And many focused on fundamentals.

At first, players found it strange. These were pros in League Two—basic training felt unnecessary.

But once they tried implementing Yang Cheng's instructions, they started to struggle.

For example, Yang demanded they always receive the ball on the move—no static receiving.

That was normal.

What wasn't normal: every reception had to occur within 10 to 15 meters of the passer.

Too close or too far, and Yang would call them out.

It threw everyone off.

Controlling distance that precisely was way harder than they expected.

Even if they nailed the spacing, Yang then expected one-touch passing—no time on the ball.

Where to pass? How to pass?

Total chaos.

The first training session was a mess.

And the players were exhausted.

Mentally taxed, constantly thinking and reacting, their stamina drained fast.

But Yang didn't ease up. Not that afternoon. Not the next day. Not even on Day Three.

Only on Day Four, when players finally started adjusting, did he hold the first tactical session.

"First, let me tell you why the 10-to-15-meter rule."

By now, the players had developed a growing respect for the 23-year-old coach.

If there was one thing footballers always knew—it was whether a coach really knew his stuff.

Yang Cheng clearly did.

He was the genius Brian Kidd had talked about.

"According to data, against high pressing, the pass success rate is highest when the ball travels 10 to 15 meters."

"Less than 10 meters, things get crowded—passes get intercepted. More than 15, accuracy and timing drop drastically."

The players thought it over—he was absolutely right.

"You need to make this distance instinctive. Whether in training or matches—if you're under 10 meters, move away. If it's more than 15, close the gap."

Nods all around.

"Second, why were you all so chaotic?"

Again, Yang gave them no time to respond.

"Because you weren't thinking."

"I don't care how your old teams trained or played. You're at Bayswater Chinese now. You play my way."

"You need to play with your brains. Constantly think, analyze the game, read your teammates and opponents."

"You felt overwhelmed because the passing range was short, the ball speed was high, and one-touch play is tough."

Everyone agreed—it was true.

Unless you had exceptional reflexes and technique, it was near impossible.

"But think about this. What if, before receiving the ball, you had already checked your surroundings and planned not one, but two passing options?"

"Would you still be lost?"

The players were stunned.

A lightbulb moment.

"To succeed here, you have to develop that habit. On the pitch, in training, always scan the field."

"I'll give you a benchmark. Before receiving the ball, you should scan your surroundings at least 10 times. 15 is better. The more, the better."

"If you can do that, one-touch passing is no longer a problem."

Now, not just the players—but Brian Kidd, Seth Forsett, and Oliver Bartlett—were all staring at Yang Cheng.

In these past few days, the 23-year-old "genius coach" had shocked and impressed them again and again.

"One more thing."

"You've all been taught that players spend most of a match without the ball. So off-the-ball movement is critical."

"But in our team, every time you move, it's not just to offer support—it's also to create passing lanes for yourself."

"If every one of us runs—not just for others, but for ourselves—we become a unified, powerful machine."

Yang's demand was clear: every ball carrier must have at least three passing options during training.

That way, even under heavy pressing, they'd always have two or more escape routes.

What surprised the squad even more: Yang had very few passing routines.

In fact, he had only one requirement:

Keep it simple.

"The simpler the play, the higher the success rate. The faster the ball moves."

So the drills were always simple—basic triangles, wall passes, off-ball cuts.

His philosophy was straightforward:

Master the basics. Get the rhythm. Build flow.

The fancy combinations?

They'd happen naturally in real games.

…

With the meeting over and the mystery resolved, training fully aligned with Yang Cheng's philosophy.

Most of it remained ball-based—even defense drills were minimal.

Brian Kidd focused on team off-the-ball movement.

The rest of the staff developed customized training for each player.

Jonathan Stead: worked on jumping ability.Modrić: focused on physical strength.Huddlestone: speed and agility training.

Seth Forsett, as performance coach, ran regular physical evaluations to monitor player development and tweak their programs.

By mid-July, after two weeks of intense camp, Forsett's latest reports showed clear improvements in stamina, strength, and stability.

Brian Kidd's own assessment matched what Yang Cheng had seen on the field: the players were adapting.

Excitement spread throughout the squad and staff.

But Yang Cheng knew the truth:

To build a truly mature and stable team would take far more than this.

This was just the beginning.

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