David Wenner is a well-known British football journalist with a reputation for building close retionships with football stars. He has written autobiographies for pyers like Bergkamp and Ferdinand and has authored several books on football.

  One of his books, Brilliant e, delves into the philosophy of Dutch football. In it, Weheorizes that the Dutch, living on flood-prone pins, developed a natural skill for managing spa their daily lives. Over time, this spatial awareness carried over into their football tactics, leading to the distinct style of py associated with the hernds and ter, Bara.

  In the book, Wenner also refers to an interview with Peter McWilliam, a former Tottenham Hotspur manager from the early 20th tury:

  "Possession is the key. Don't rush to pass. Move foratiently."

  "Long balls are risky. Teique is what ts. If you have the ball at your feet, keep it. The other team 't score if they don't have the ball."

  Does that sound familiar?

  That's because this is essentially the foundation of the Dutch "total football" cept, which ter evolved into the possession-based football of Bara.

  McWilliam himself isn't widely known, but his influence carried through to Englishman Vic Bugham, who pyed under him at Tottenham. Bugham, in turn, was the predecessor to Rinus Michels at Ajax and Bara. In many ways, it was Bugham who id the groundwork for the footballing philosophies that Michels and ter Cruyff would develop into the systems that dominated global football.

  Many people remember Michels and Cruyff as the architeodern football, but fewer aowledge Bugham's tributions. His ideas passed from Michels to Cruyff, to Van Gaal, Rijkaard, aually Guardio, f a line of tactical iance.

  But there's one figure in this evolution whose role has been undervalued: Louis van Gaal.

  Van Gaal took the possession and passing principles he ied from Michels and Cruyff and adapted them to fit the needs of modern football. His Ajax team in the early 1990s introduced the "No. 4" role, a tactical innovation that tio shape football today.

  The No. 4 is essentially a deep-lying midfielder who also drop bato defense, creating a flexible system that transitions smoothly between a three-man and four-man defense. Van Gaal's use of the No. 4 was revolutionary because it bridged the gap between defense and midfield, allowing for smoother transitions and more dynamitrol of the game.

  Befao Shen's time, there were maes around pyers like Busquets. But from this tactical perspective, doesn't his role suddenly make a lot more sense?

  Football tactics are interected. Van Gaal's small tushing the tral midfielder forward to py a dual role—pletely ged the way teams approached both defense and attack. The No. 4 became not only a defensive shield but also a key part of the pymaking process.

  This was the core of Van Gaal's philosophy, and it influenced geions of coaches. Guardio's use of Busquets as the No. 4 at Bara is a direct tinuation of this tactical evolution.

  Gao Shen had been experimenting with Napoli's tactics sihe start of st season. While the 4-2-3-1 formation provided a solid foundation, it wasn't aggressive enough, especially against teams with deep defenses. He noticed gaps between the midfield and defense during attacks, which made transitions difficult.

  So, Gao Shen started experimenting with the 4-3-3 formatioried multiple pyers in the No. 4 role—Biglia, Rakitic, Vidal, and even David Luiz. But none of them could fulfill his vision for the role.

  Take Vidal, for example. While he excelled in man-marking and disrupting attacks, as he did against Totti in the sed leg against Roma, his passing and pymaki much to be desired. He was defensively solid but cked the finesse required to initiate attacks.

  her Biglia nor Rakitic could adequately hahe responsibilities of a lone defensive midfielder either.

  That's when Gao Shen turned his attention to Bara, the current stronghold of the No. 4.

  ---

  As soon as Gao Sheed the airport, his ph.

  "I'm in the parking lot, directly across from you. It's the bck car with the hazard lights on. Do you see it?"

  It was Guardio on the line. Gao Shen quickly spotted the car and made his way over.

  As soon as he got in, Guardio hit the gas, speeding away from the airport.

  "I say, why are we sneaking around like this? Are we spies or something?" Gao Shen asked, puzzled.

  Guardio shot him a gnce, half-smiling. "You don't know? You're one of the most unpopur people around here. If anyone sees me with you, it'll be front-page omorrow."

  Gao Shen ughed. "The head coach of some fourth-division team is making headlines? Big deal."

  Guardio couldn't help but grin.

  He wasn't usually talkative—he was known for being stern and reserved—but with Gao Shen, it was different. They had a rapport that put him at ease.

  "I'm telling you, you'd better make sure there's good food and fun tonight. If not, I might just sell you out to the press tomorrow. They'll be thrilled to hear how you're ruining Bara's geion of pyers."

  Guardio burst out ughing. "Weren't you just saying my team is a broken-down fourth-division squad? What's there to ruin?"

  Gao Shen smirked. "The team's bad because of its coach."

  "Does that mean you could turn it around?"

  "Easy. I'd have them promoted in a year, maybe even two tiers. After that, though, it's out of my hands."

  Guardio shot him a disbelieving look. "You're bragging even more tha time I saw you."

  The two tinued bantering, ughing all the way as they drove into the city.

  This trip was different fao Shen. Previously, his visits to Bara were stressful, tied to high-stakes matches. But this time, he could actually rex and enjoy the city.

  As they sped through Bara's streets, Gao Shen couldn't help but think of a movie he had seen in his past life, *The Bourne Identity*. In the film, the protagonist, an amnesiac spy, washed up on the shores of Bara after being shot. He had no memory of who he was, but Bara became his refuge.

  "Do you like it here?" Guardio asked, notig Gao Shen's wandering gaze.

  Gao Shen smiled. "It's not bad."

  Guardio's eyes lit up. "You should e here and coach. I'll be your assistant."

  Gao Shen ughed. "You're ambitious, aren't you? Trying to repce Carlo already?"

  As much as Gao Shen liked Bara, he k wasn't the right pce for him—at least not yet.

  "By the way, how did that thing I asked you to do go?" Gao Shen asked, ging the subject.

  Guardio grinned. "All set. We're having dinner with Txiki tonight."

  Txiki Begiristain, Bara's teical director. If Gao Shen wao poach a pyer from Bara, he xiki's blessing.

  "Let me guess," Guardio said, narrowing his eyes. "You're here to poae of our pyers, aren't you?"

  Gao Shen just smiled mischievously. "You might not want to know."

  Guardio suddenly felt a sinking feeling. "Oh no, you're not seriously here to dig into my team, are you?"

  "Misuanding!" Gao Shen said, feigning innoce. "How could I do that to you?"

  Guardio gave him a side-eye, his suspis only deepening.

  "Don't worry," Gao Shen said, patting him on the shoulder. "You're in the fourth division. There's nowhere lower to go. What's there to lose?"

  "That's not an excuse to rob my team blind!" Guardio protested.

  Gao Shen sighed dramatically, shaking his head. "Is that really what you think of me?"

  Guardio didn't answer. Instead, he just stared, his expression saying everything.

  This left Gao Shen feeling exasperated.

  "Some friend you are," he muttered under his breath.