Football: My AI System Provides Max-Level Predictions

What, a 3V3 match?

Is it a competition between the new team members?

This arrangement is really fresh for the Manchester City fans who have come to watch!

Manchester City holding a grand joining ceremony for a new player at the home stadium is not a common occurrence, and although fans have seen ceremonies held by other teams, they haven't seen a program like this. For instance, when C Luo joined Real Madrid, there wasn't any; and when Robinho joined Manchester City, there wasn't any either.

Fans seated are drawn in, sit up straight, and are full of curiosity.

Fans returning to their seats in the aisles quickly go back to their seats.

This segment is interesting and shouldn't be missed!

Down below, Manchester City's new members are completely baffled.

What is going on here?

This segment wasn't mentioned before the match.

Iheanacho, Sterling, Delph, Otamendi, Ranocchia, these five new players are all dumbfounded.

Even Tang Long is amused!

Well done, Belada, as expected of a commercial director, you really know how to create excitement, even I didn't know.

In fact, commercial director Belada came up with this idea on the spot.

While planning Tang Long's joining ceremony, he referred to many practices of other teams, pondering how to bring some novelty.

He brainstormed for a long time but couldn't think of anything.

It wasn't until the end of Tang Long's meeting ceremony that he suddenly had a brainwave, slapped his head, and came up with this 3V3 idea.

As for revealing the reward after the match, it's purely because Belada himself hasn't thought of a reward yet, so he's there thinking about it!

Head coach Pellegrini is not too pleased.

He quickly approached and said worriedly to Belada:

"This might not be good, my players haven't warmed up, I'm afraid they might get injured."

Belada, looking unfazed, waved his hand dismissively and said: "Give them ten minutes to stretch a bit, don't worry, it's just a show for the program's effect, just have some fun."

The two communicated for a full minute, unable to convince the stubborn Belada, Pellegrini reluctantly agreed.

He immediately ordered the six new players, namely Iheanacho, Sterling, Delph, Otamendi, Ranocchia, and Tang Long, to warm up.

Luckily, the players on site were already in their kits and football boots, so they didn't need to change clothes, and ten minutes of stretching flew by quickly.

The audience present wasn't worried about the wait, all sat watching the show.

Even if you warm up for 20 minutes, we're sitting here waiting, this segment is too fun~

While the new players were warming up, Belada instructed the field manager to drag a small five-a-side goal close to the audience, facing the on-site cameras.

"Joe Hart, come down here!"

Belada called Joe Hart down to keep goal.

Joe Hart pouted, reluctantly grabbed the goalkeeper gloves, thinking: "There's only one goal, no matter what I'll be conceding, I'm going to be the backdrop for these new players again!"

After standing up, his arm was grabbed, Milner leaned to his ear and whispered seriously: "Do your best in goal, don't let Tang score!"

Yaya Toure was sitting nearby and heard this, he saw through Milner's mind long ago; he found it amusing inside seeing Joe Hart's reluctant look, he's afraid he wouldn't take goalkeeping seriously, standing there is already good enough. Rather than hoping he does well, it would be better for Milner to go keep goal himself, as long Tang Long doesn't play seriously, maybe you could really keep the sheet clean.

After warming up, Pellegrini said, you can form teams freely.

The six new players formed a circle, looking at each other, and laughed.

Iheanacho, Sterling, Delph, the three English players formed a team.

Otamendi, Ranocchia, Tang Long formed a team.

Seeing the two groups each completed the pairing, fans were full of anticipation, wanting to see whether our three English newcomers can beat the three foreigners!

However, Belada immediately called it off.

"Ranocchia, you can't team up with Tang, you're old teammates, this pairing doesn't have the show's effect, I'll organize the teams!"

So under Belada's coordination, a re-pairing was done.

Sterling, Tang Long, Otamendi formed a team.

Iheanacho, Delph, Ranocchia formed a team.

Not to mention, this grouping indeed turned out better.

On one hand, both teams have one forward, one midfielder, and one defender.

On the other hand, Tang Long facing against former teammate Ranocchia created internal rivalry within the Inter duo, wouldn't this bring out the show's effect?

Otamendi, straightforward by nature, immediately asked Belada: "Director, what's the reward then?"

Belada still hasn't thought of it, smilingly acting mysteriously: "Haha, don't rush, I'll tell you after the match!"

Belada unexpectedly suggested, no strict rules here, as England's top goalkeeper Joe Hart is defending. You two teams take turns attacking and defending, the first to score three goals wins. As for the field, choose yourselves but don't stray too far.

Team representatives, Tang Long and Ranocchia, play rock-paper-scissors to decide who attacks first.

"I won't go easy on you, be careful." Tang Long teased.

"It's the first match of the new season, I won't go easy either. Just make sure you have your shin guards." Ranocchia replied with a grin.

Tang Long's team won possession and started attacking, while Ranocchia's team took up defense first.

Tang Long moved to about twenty meters outside the goal, with Sterling and Otamendi by his side.

"How do you want to play this?" Tang Long asked for everyone's opinion.

Sterling and Otamendi shrugged at each other, indicating to just play casually, what else could they do.

Tang Long looked towards the goal.

The five-a-side goal was about two meters high and three meters wide.

The 194CM tall Joe Hart stood in front of the goal, wearing sneakers, and with the height of his hair, his head almost touched the crossbar.

His arms could easily cover the width of the goal.

"You two come over," Tang Long motioned for Sterling and Otamendi to draw close, "the goal's too small, Hart's too big, we can only aim for Hart's groin."

Sterling nodded frequently, "That's right, I aimed for Hart's groin once in Liverpool, and during national team training everyone liked targeting his groin!"

England National Team Goalkeeper Joe Hart is known for excellent line control but has a couple of weak spots. One is often becoming the background for spectacular long shots, another is being easily nutmegged.

Though Tang Long has never specifically targeted Hart in AI training, he has seen enough football news to know this.

Otamendi agreed, saying he wouldn't shoot because he's only good at powerful shots, not nutmegs, forcing a nutmeg might hurt Hart's jewels.

Belada, dressed in a suit and leather shoes, blew the whistle, and the 3V3 match began!

The crowd erupted in enthusiastic cheers!

Though they knew it was just for show, everyone was excited to see the performance of these six new recruits.

Tang Long dribbled a few steps forward to the goal.

Opponent midfielder Delph came to defend.

Sterling and Otamendi spread out to the sides, and Tang Long passed the ball to Sterling.

Sterling, young at just 21, had made his name early at Liverpool and excelled in speed and dribbling.

He feinted with a sidestep, making a dummy move, and Iheanacho cooperated by not extending his foot, allowing Sterling to breeze past.

Ranocchia and Delph moved to block Sterling struck, but the ball ricocheted off Ranocchia's leg and landed at Tang Long's feet.

Although neither of them made any aggressive moves, with Ranocchia tall and blocking the way, Sterling couldn't easily shoot.

Tang Long controlled the ball and passed it to Otamendi on the right, who didn't stop it either, passing it back to Tang Long, signalling him to handle it.

To be fair, this back-and-forth did cause Ranocchia and Delph to shift, revealing a gap that Tang Long quickly slipped through, flicking the ball to bypass Ranocchia and facing the goal directly.

Hart posed like a keeper, swinging his arms, thinking that given the small size of the goal and his stance, Tang Long couldn't score even if he stood still.

Tang Long paused briefly before kicking, made a dummy move, and suddenly the ball shot out!

Hart was already thrown off by Tang Long's timing, with Ranocchia obstructing his view, plus his overconfidence in covering the area left him stationary like a statue, just as the ball cheekily rolled through his legs and into the goal~

"Uh..." Hart was stunned, then covered his face with his hand.

(Hart: Frustrating, nutmegged again!)

Itihad Stadium erupted in laughter~

"Haha, Hart's first nutmeg this season, that's hilarious!" Agüero couldn't stop grinning.

Tang Long quickly rushed to hug Hart, apologizing, while Hart nodded awkwardly, saying it's no big deal.

Then the teams switched roles, both scoring goals.

Ranocchia's performance not only wowed the fans with cheers but also caught the attention of the Manchester City players in the stands.

Before he was 12, he played as a forward with exceptional skills.

With a few simple heel flicks, he dribbled past Otamendi and Tang Long.

Even though the opponents weren't defending seriously, Ranocchia's moves still showcased excellent footwork.

Kompany said, "He's playing like Pique, I'm partnering him this season; I'll stay back while he performs as a ball-playing center-back. Can't wait to see his passing skills in a real Premier League match."

Agüero said, "If our defense had a ball-playing center-back like him, the midfield's pressure would be much less, and the defensive line wouldn't fear forwards pressing. The club's recruitment strategy is clear and precise."

Soon enough, the score was 2:2.

Tang Long and Sterling scored one each, and Iheanacho scored both for the other side.

"Young lads, here comes the golden goal, one goal to decide it all, go go, the winners will get a reward!" Belada transformed into a live DJ, using the microphone to set the pace.