146: - Chapter 2: The Troubles of Victory (Part 2)

The home match against Gillingham was two days away.

After the excitement of the derby, the players needed to readjust their form.

He walked out of his office and headed to the training ground.

The autumn sun shone on the green pitch, where players were engaged in small-sided game training.

Old John stood on the sidelines, holding a tactics board.

"John, call a team meeting after training."

Lin Feng walked up to him.

"I need to emphasize focus and control of the game tempo."

"A winning streak can easily lead to complacency."

Old John nodded.

"I have the same concern; Vardy seemed a bit distracted during training yesterday."

"Perhaps his performance in the derby made him a bit overconfident."

Lin Feng observed the training on the field.

Vardy was indeed less focused than usual, and his passing accuracy had noticeably declined.

Henderson, in the midfield, was holding onto the ball too much, losing his usual concise and efficient passing style.

"Victory is a double-edged sword."

Lin Feng pondered how to adjust the team's state.

After training, the players gathered in the tactical meeting room.

Lin Feng stood in front of the projector, his expression serious.

"Gentlemen, I know the derby victory has made everyone very excited."

"But I want to remind you of one thing—the League is our main battlefield."

He clicked the remote control, and the statistics from the last League match appeared on the screen.

"We currently have 19 points, leading the second-place team by 5 points."

"But this advantage could be erased at any time."

Vardy sat in the front row, his expression somewhat unnatural.

"The competition in League One is more brutal than you imagine."

Lin Feng didn't look at anyone, merely stating the facts calmly, but everyone in the meeting room felt an invisible pressure enveloping them.

"The loss of any single match could render all our efforts futile."

"So I need you to maintain one hundred percent focus in every match."

Sigurdsson raised his hand to speak.

"Boss, we will adjust our state."

"The derby is in the past; the League is the future."

Lin Feng nodded with satisfaction.

After the meeting, he remained alone in his office to handle business matters.

Negotiations for the naming rights with Samsung had entered the final stage.

Both legal teams were confirming every clause in the contract.

This unprecedented, sky-high contract would provide ample financial support for winter transfer window signings.

Lin Feng opened another folder.

Inside was the latest investment report from Northern Capital.

Through this investment company, he had quietly acquired a stake in a sports data analytics company located in London.

This small company, named "Data Equation," possessed advanced match data collection and analysis algorithms.

Lin Feng planned to integrate its technology into the research system of the Phoenix Training Center.

"The combination of technology and football will be the future trend."

He signed his name on the investment agreement.

There was a soft knock on the office door.

Sophie Green pushed the door open, holding a recording device and a notebook.

"Lin, I'd like to talk to you about the youth training system."

She sat down in a chair, immediately turned on her voice recorder, and on the first page of her open notebook, several sharp questions about the club's financial situation were already listed.

"The performance of those young players in the derby left everyone deeply impressed."

"The outside world is curious about how you built this 'prodigy factory.'"

Lin Feng leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the desk.

"Football is a sport that requires talent, but it also requires scientific training methods."

"Our youth training system not only teaches technical skills but also focuses on developing mental fortitude and tactical understanding."

Sophie quickly recorded his words.

"Can you elaborate on your training philosophy?"

"Traditional youth training often only focuses on a player's physical qualities and basic techniques."

Lin Feng stood up and walked to the tactics board.

"But we place more emphasis on cultivating a player's football intelligence."

He drew a simple formation diagram on the tactics board.

"Players in each position must not only master their own responsibilities but also understand the operational logic of the entire tactical system."

"Players trained this way have stronger adaptability and greater potential for growth."

Sophie nodded thoughtfully.

After the interview, she left the office.

Lin Feng continued to work on his tasks.

Laughter and cheerful voices of the players drifted in from outside; the training atmosphere was relaxed and pleasant.

The confidence brought by the winning streak made everyone seem at ease.

But Lin Feng knew that the real tests were yet to come.

The path to promotion is never smooth sailing.

As night fell, a piece of news caught his attention.

The words of the Gillingham head coach during a media interview were both amusing and frustrating.

"Our goal at Victoria Park is very simple."

On the TV screen, the head coach smiled wryly and shook his head.

"It's just to try and get one corner kick."

The reporters let out good-natured laughter.

"You're joking, right?"

"I'm serious."

The head coach's expression became serious.

"Hartlepool United's dominance right now is truly terrifying."

"All we can do is try our best and aim not to lose too badly."

Lin Feng turned off the TV, his brow slightly furrowed.

While this mindset from the opponent was beneficial for the team's victory, it also hid danger.

When the opponent no longer resists, players can easily lose focus and fighting spirit.

This was precisely the problem he was most worried about.

He picked up his phone and sent a text message to Old John.

"Tomorrow's training focus: maintain hunger and concentration."

"Tell the players that true strong teams do not relax their vigilance because the opponent shows weakness."

After sending the message, Lin Feng stood by the French window, gazing at the night sky.

Hartlepool's night was calm and peaceful, but his heart was in turmoil.

Behind the joy of victory lay greater challenges and responsibilities.

This young team still needed more tempering.

And he, the mastermind behind the scenes, also had to be fully prepared for the upcoming tests.

The targets for the winter transfer window had been locked.

The expansion of the business empire was underway.

Everything was progressing steadily according to plan.