He did it!

The moment he clicked to open the file, the phone screen suddenly burst out with a soft golden light, more dazzling than Rijkaard's white light, yet not glaring.

Golden light instantly enveloped his entire body, all the noise around him vanished in an instant, and the surrounding environment began to undergo earth-shattering changes.

The golden light completely enveloped him, shutting out the noise of the locker room, the coach's roar, and the footsteps of his teammates.

When his vision cleared again, Wu Bin was already standing on a boundless, standard green football field.

Luther Gullit stood three meters in front of him, dressed in a crisp red training suit. He was tall and upright with broad shoulders and a calm and dignified presence.

He didn't waste any pleasantries, getting straight to the point, stepping on the football that appeared out of nowhere, and immediately hitting the nail on the head.

"Your physical foundation is indeed excellent; you're already outstanding for your age group."

Gullit flicked the ball with his toe, and it rolled obediently under his feet. He looked sharply at Wu Bin and said, "But having a physique doesn't mean you can defend. Your problem in the first half wasn't that you couldn't run or hold your own, but that you didn't know how to use positioning to lock down space, how to use driving to control the game, or how to use teamwork to cover gaps."

As soon as he finished speaking, Gullit slightly raised his wrist.

The empty stadium instantly transformed, with three players in blue jerseys and two players in red jerseys standing on either side.

With Gullit himself included, it's a perfect three-on-three offense and defense.

"Watch closely." Gullit stepped on the ball, his voice steady and powerful. "When I play as a defensive midfielder, I never rely on blind pressing or sliding tackles to win the ball, but on taking the initiative in defense. Today, for my first lesson, I'll teach you—driving the ball away."

He lifted his foot and smoothly passed the ball, which landed precisely at the feet of the blue team's attacking player.

Wu Bin instantly held his breath, focusing intently on every movement on the field, not daring to miss a single detail.

After gaining possession, the Blue team immediately launched a classic triangular passing game, displaying agile footwork and smooth transitions between lateral and diagonal passes, constantly seeking routes to advance. This was precisely the attacking pattern that Nantong Zhiyun used to dominate Fujian Tianxin's midfield in the first half.

However, none of the three defenders on the red team blindly rushed forward or made reckless tackles; they maintained a tight triangular formation and pressed forward relentlessly.

After the blue team continued to advance into the danger zone, the red team players pressed close to him, but still did not foul or extend their legs. They used their bodies and center of gravity to block his turning space, forcing him to pass the ball laterally back and never send a threatening ball forward.

Whenever a blue team player tries to make a forward run, a red team player immediately blocks that run. At the same time, Gullit stands firmly in the most crucial passing lane in the middle, blocking diagonal passes with one hand and directing his teammates to shrink back with the other, gradually compressing the blue team's space.

The blue team's passes were always safe, uncontested lateral and back passes, which seemed unhurried, but with each pass, the space available for movement became smaller and smaller.

They wanted to move towards the middle, but Gullit blocked their path; they wanted to turn and move forward, but the players marking them closely wouldn't budge an inch; they could only be forced to move step by step towards the sideline and the dead end of the baseline.

The moment the blue team's ball handler is completely forced to the sideline, with the ball behind them out of bounds and under close pressure in front, and all passing lanes to the left and right are blocked.

With a low shout, Gullit signaled for three Red Team players to close in simultaneously, instantly forming a pincer movement and giving the ball handler no chance to struggle, cleanly and decisively intercepting the ball.

The entire sequence of actions was fluid and seamless, with not a single reckless rush or a single gap left undefended. From the very beginning, they had completely calculated all of the attacking team's routes.

Wu Bin stood there, his mouth slightly open. The chaos, confusion, and passivity of the first half of the game in his mind were instantly cleaved open by a ray of light, and he suddenly saw the light.

It turns out that defense is not about passively taking hits at all.

It turns out that you don't need to gamble on luck, use brute force, or desperately launch a flying tackle to lock down your opponent.

Gullit walked slowly back to him, his voice firm and resolute, each word striking Wu Bin's heart: "This is how you drive them away. We don't fight for the ball, we don't act out of spite, we just use positioning to press, compress space, block threatening lines, and gradually drive the opponent into the dead end we've set up."

"The highest level of defense is not how many balls you intercept, but that you maintain control of the game even when you don't have the ball."

He looked at Wu Bin and posed the most crucial question: "Tell me, the opponent was passing the ball smoothly the whole time, so why were we still forced into a corner and intercepted in the end?"

Without the slightest hesitation, Wu Bin blurted out, "Because they were all passing safe balls!"

Upon hearing this, even the well-informed Gloucester was slightly taken aback, then nodded vigorously with admiration in his eyes.

"That's right, it's a safety ball."

"A competent midfielder's priority should always be a safe pass that won't lose possession. What we need to do is give them enough safe passing space, let them relax their guard, and at the same time gradually tighten our encirclement."

"By the time they realize they've walked into a dead end, it's too late. That's the core of the expulsion."

Gullit turned to the side and pointed to the center of the field: "Understanding the principles isn't enough. Being able to apply them on the field is what truly matters. Want to try it out? You'll play in the central defensive midfield position, and I'll pair you with your teammates. The opponents are a standard professional-level attacking group."

Wu Bin instantly perked up, his blood boiling, and he clenched his fist, replying in a deep voice, "Come on!"

The moment he stepped onto the field and took his place in the central defensive midfield position, the previously clear view for onlookers instantly narrowed.

When watching the game, it seems like there are empty spaces all around, but after switching from "3D perspective" to "2D perspective", the empty spaces disappear.

All the logic I understood just now suddenly became chaotic when I was actually in the situation.

The saying "the bystander sees most of the game" perfectly illustrates this point.

Historically, midfield maestros often possessed a "God's-eye view" of the vast field of vision, which enabled them to deliver incredible passes!

"Remember, you not only need to defend yourself, but also direct your teammates. You are the defensive core in the middle, not fighting alone," Gullit's voice rang out from the sidelines. "Ready, go!"

Offense and defense were activated instantly.

Wu Bin immediately closed in on the nearest ball carrier, but before he could even move, a blue team player made a diagonal pass, sending the ball over his head and into the path of his teammate.

He turned and chased back, but he was already half a step too late. His opponent easily received the ball, turned around, and broke through the defense.

Wu Bin stood frozen in place, his face full of astonishment.

"Not enough pressure! Completely wrong positioning!" Gullit's voice rang out immediately, stern but not harsh. "You're a defensive midfielder; the center is your lifeline! When the opponent uses a springboard cross, your first instinct isn't to mark the ball carrier, but to block the passing lane! If you just stick to your position, the gaps behind you will naturally be left open!"

Wu Bin gritted his teeth and clenched his fists: "Again!"

……

……

……

Each attack and defense attempt ended in failure.

Sometimes he goes too far forward and gets attacked from behind by the opponent;

Sometimes he positions himself too far back, making it easy for opponents to pass the ball in the middle;

Sometimes he was a step too slow in directing his teammates, and the defensive line would instantly break down;

They clearly understand the principles, but once on the field, their footwork, judgment, and positioning are always a beat behind, leaving them with numerous mistakes.

After countless failures, Wu Bin finally couldn't hold on any longer and collapsed onto the grass, panting heavily. His whole body was soaked in sweat, his muscles ached and felt numb, and his heart was filled with frustration and confusion.

Footsteps approached, and Gloucester knelt down beside him. Without sarcasm or impatience, his tone was calm and gentle: "Do you sense where the problem lies?"

Wu Bin was silent for a few seconds, his voice hoarse but incredibly clear: "I myself became the biggest weakness of the team. One mistake from me, and the entire defense collapsed."

"That's right." Guli nodded. "Then tell me, how can we avoid becoming a loophole?"

Wu Bin closed his eyes, his mind racing through the repeated failures, Gullit's demonstration of every position and every step of movement.

Close-range, chasing, grabbing, blocking...

All the images converged in one place, and he suddenly opened his eyes, a flash of enlightenment appearing in them.

"It's about positioning!"

"Correct! It's all about positioning!" Gullit snapped his fingers, his tone full of approval. "Defensive midfielders' defense is never about simply marking closely or retreating. Your positioning needs to accomplish three things simultaneously: block passing lanes, prevent the ball carrier from turning, and cover for your teammates."

"When it's time to stick it out, stick it out firmly; when it's time to stop, leave it completely still; when it's time to tighten, tighten it completely to catch up. Choosing the right location is worth even running an extra 10,000 meters."

He raised his hand and waved, and a gentle yet powerful force surged into Wu Bin's body. The fatigue and soreness he had felt earlier instantly dissipated, his body regained its strength, and his mind became incredibly clear.

"Now that it's adjusted, let's continue."

Wu Bin rolled over and stood up, wiping the sweat from his face. The confusion in his eyes completely disappeared, leaving only determination and fierce determination: "Again!"

The offensive and defensive operations have resumed.

This time, Wu Bin did not blindly rush to grab the weapon, nor did he panic and close the distance.

He stood in the middle, lowered his center of gravity, and kept his eyes on the ball carrier, the running players, and the passing lanes. He first locked down the most threatening diagonal passing channels, then directed his teammates to block the flanks, pressing forward step by step.

When the opponent makes a cross, he moves with his position, always maintaining a triangular defensive formation; when the opponent tries to move forward, he blocks the path in advance, forcing the opponent to pass back; when the opponent tries to turn, he immediately closes in, using his body to suppress him and never giving him a chance to move forward.

Oppression, contraction, expulsion, blockade.

He gradually compressed the opponent's passing space, driving the blue team's ball handler step by step towards the blind spot on the sideline.

The opponent's passes became increasingly hurried, their movements increasingly frantic, and they had lost their previous composure.

The moment the winger received the ball, Wu Bin's eyes sharpened, and he decisively gave the order: "Press forward! Block back passes!"

Two teammates stepped forward simultaneously to tighten their grip, forming a tight encirclement.

Wu Bin suddenly started to move laterally, his steps were steady and his center of gravity was stable. With a clean and neat block, he accurately touched the football and poked it directly out of bounds, successfully intercepting the ball!

The entire sequence of actions was executed flawlessly, without any reckless attacks or positioning errors, perfectly replicating Gullit's driving logic!

Wu Bin stood frozen in place, watching the football roll out of bounds. His breath caught in his throat, and then an overwhelming surge of joy welled up inside him. He couldn't help but clench his fists and let out a low growl.

He did it! He really did it!

"Beautiful." Gullit clapped slowly from the sidelines and walked over.

"This is the essence of driving away enemies. With proper positioning, coordination, and spatial control, you've already grasped the basics."

Wu Bin, panting and sweating, smiled somewhat embarrassedly: "I only succeeded this once. I failed countless times before. I still have a long way to go."

Upon hearing this, Gloucester's lips curled into a faint smile: "Do you know what level of opponent you just faced?"

Wu Bin was taken aback and looked up at him.

"Professional-level passing and movement rhythm in the second division of Europe." Gullit held up two fingers, his tone steady. "I limited their physique, speed, and explosiveness, but their passing awareness, positioning logic, and attacking rhythm were all professional standards."

"Your ability to adapt to this rhythm and complete a perfect chase and encirclement in such a short time has already surpassed the vast majority of professional defensive midfielders of the same age."

Wu Bin was stunned for a moment, his heart filled with turmoil.

A European professional-level pace? He actually kept up?

"Do you want to keep practicing?" GRIDLE asked him.

"Practice!" Wu Bin didn't hesitate at all, his eyes burning with fervor. "Keep going! I want to master interception and coordinated positioning!"

In the time that followed, the training in this virtual space entered an extremely intense phase.

Gullit shared all his defensive skills from his playing days with Wu Bin without reservation.

"Interception requires more judgment than stealing. You need to look not at the ball, but at the opponent's shoulders, eyes, and center of gravity. Before he makes his move, you need to get to where he's going."

"You must be decisive when you make a move, but not reckless. First, use your positioning to force your opponent into a corner, then make the decisive move. Every move must be made with 100% certainty."

"As a defensive midfielder, you also need to cooperate with the full-backs and center-backs, learn to cover the gaps and support the defensive core of the entire midfield."

Failure, correction, try again, make another mistake, epiphany, improvement.

Wu Bin didn't know how many sets of offense and defense he practiced, or how many times he failed. He only knew that with each run, each position, and each judgment, he became more and more skilled and composed.

The previously impetuous defensive midfielder who could only tough it out, passively take hits, and panic when broken through is rapidly transforming at a visible pace.

After an unknown amount of time, Gullit finally raised his hand and stopped training.

Wu Bin stood in the center of the court, his breathing steady, his center of gravity stable, his eyes sharp and calm, exuding a calm defensive aura, completely different from the panicked and confused boy before.

"It's almost time," Gullit said, looking at him with a smile. "Now you can go back and continue playing the second half."

Golden light began to slowly float, and the surrounding training ground gradually became blurred.

"Remember everything I taught you." Gridman's voice echoed in the golden light, steady and powerful.

"Your physique is strong enough, and your awareness is good enough. In the second half, don't chase the ball; control the game."

"Use positioning to block his breakthrough routes; use pushing to force him into a corner; use interception to cut off all his threatening passes."

"You are not the weak point in the defense."

"You are a defensive midfielder, a shield in front of the defenders."

The moment the last ray of golden light enveloped Wu Bin, all the defensive techniques, positioning logic, and rhythm control were deeply imprinted in his mind.

The next second, the noise around me suddenly rushed back.

The shouts from the locker room, the coach's instructions, and the footsteps of teammates were clearly audible.

Wu Bin suddenly came to his senses, still curled up in the corner of the locker room, his phone still in his hand.

But as he slightly pulled in his stomach and lowered his center of gravity, his body instantly found that calm, tense, and in control feeling.

His jersey was soaked with sweat, but he didn't feel tired.

More importantly, his eyes no longer held the confusion and panic he had in the first half.

All that remained was calmness, determination, and an aura of certain victory.

Just then, head coach Zhao Qiang's furious roar erupted once again:

"Wu Bin! What are you doing hiding there? Are you even going to play in the second half?!"

Wu Bin slowly stood up, looked up at the direction of the court, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

Take the stage.

Of course I have to play.

In the second half, it was his turn to win back all the lost ground, with interest!