Chapter 161 - 154: Bergkamp’s Ball Trap

There was an old saying in Yang Yang’s hometown: Even a thief needs to have three days’ worth of supplies.

It meant that even a thief had to prepare three days’ worth of food in advance, just in case they couldn’t steal anything. This principle of planning ahead applied even more so to other professions.

His parents had taught him this from a young age. Later, when he went to boarding school for middle school, they would give him his meal money directly—sometimes for a week, sometimes for a whole month—and let him manage it himself. This fostered his independence and ability to take care of himself. It also instilled in him a habit of planning for the future, a sense of cautious foresight.

Right now, relying on the two Star Skills, [Ronaldo’s Rush] and [Beckham’s Crossing], Yang Yang could secure a firm spot on the Ajax first team and perform well. However, he was also keenly aware that this wasn’t because his skills were on the same level as players like Ibrahimovic or Van der Vaart. It was because the team needed a player of his specific type.

This was also why, for the past six months, he had followed the advice of Old Ice in the Super Training field and specialized in just those two Star Skills.

But things were always changing, and Ajax would change too.

’The team is doing well this season, but will head coach Ronald Koeman leave in the summer? If he leaves and a new coach comes in, the team’s playstyle will change. Will I still be able to hold my spot on the first team then?’

’Even if Ronald Koeman stays, with key players like Ibrahimovic, Van der Vaart, and Talabesi leaving, won’t Ajax’s tactics have to be adjusted?’

Everything was in a constant state of flux. Yang Yang knew he had to be proactive in adapting to change.

Only by becoming more well-rounded and improving his overall strength could he calmly face the ever-changing world of professional football.

...

As Yang Yang and Old Ice reached an agreement, numerous shimmering silhouettes of star players appeared around the Super Training field.

When it came to a first touch, many stars had exceptional ability. But in the Super Training field, after an evaluation, the player with the strongest first touch was determined to be the legendary Dutch star currently playing for Arsenal, Dennis Bergkamp.

Speaking of this star who started his career at Ajax, according to Van Gaal, he used to be just like Yang Yang, practicing against a wall by himself day and night. It was through this grueling training that he honed his skills and eventually became the Ice Prince he was today.

Yang Yang chose his third Star Skill almost without hesitation: Bergkamp’s First Touch.

The shimmering silhouettes of the stars converged into a beam of light that shot into Yang Yang’s forehead before he could even react. Scene after scene of Bergkamp’s brilliant first touches appeared in his mind, as clear as a meticulously edited highlight reel.

Yang Yang could perform a series of operations like zooming in or playing it in slow motion, allowing him to see every detail perfectly. It was as if Bergkamp himself were demonstrating it right in front of him, which left Yang Yang completely stunned.

"This is incredible," Yang Yang murmured, clicking his tongue in amazement.

Watching Bergkamp’s first touch from this close was even more shocking than watching Van der Vaart’s from the sidelines earlier.

"Just as you see in these clips, [Bergkamp’s First Touch] isn’t a technique for controlling the ball, but a match skill. A Star Skill," Old Ice’s characteristically cold voice sounded next to Yang Yang’s ear.

"Is there a difference?"

"A huge difference," Old Ice replied. "A ball control technique is a technical action. It’s the ability to use your body to execute the motion of stopping the ball. You’ve already learned that, haven’t you?"

Yang Yang nodded. "Then what’s a match skill?"

"A so-called match skill for ball control is the ability of a player to choose the correct ball control technique at the right time, in the right place, and according to the needs of the match."

Yang Yang was a bit confused. ’Aren’t those two the same thing?’

Sensing Yang Yang’s confusion, Old Ice didn’t waste words and gave a simple yet profound explanation.

"If we treat every first touch in a match like an exam, your feel for the ball is the basic section, worth twenty points at most. Your first-touch technique is the advanced section, worth about thirty points. But your judgment—reading the game situation, predicting the ball’s path, and executing the most appropriate technique—that’s worth fifty points."

It suddenly dawned on Yang Yang. "So you’re saying, the whole hundred points is the match skill."

"Correct. Scoring well on the first fifty points isn’t hard at all. If you were tested now, you could get a perfect score. But where you really have a problem is with the last fifty points. And that is precisely the strength of [Bergkamp’s First Touch]."

After Old Ice’s explanation, Yang Yang finally understood.

A Star Skill was a Star Skill precisely because it was a match skill, not just a technique.

"My problem right now is that my first touch starts to fail whenever I’m tightly marked by an opponent in a match, or when the intensity of the game is a bit higher, or after my stamina has been depleted to a certain point," Yang Yang pointed out his own problem.

This wasn’t actually anything new. Not only did Yang Yang know it, but the Ajax coaching staff was also well aware. Their advice was not to rush, but to continue solidifying his fundamentals. They believed that as he played more matches and gained more experience, it would slowly get better.

"This is very normal. Generally speaking, every player’s process of learning a ball control skill can be divided into four stages: Clueless, Unsteady, Stable, and Reflex."

"’Clueless’ means being at a loss; the player can’t judge the ball’s direction or landing spot and doesn’t know what kind of action to use to control it. Gradually, he learns and starts to understand how to control the ball, but it’s very ’Unsteady.’ As soon as he’s put under pressure, his form breaks down, or he makes a lot of unnecessary extra movements, which greatly diminishes the effectiveness of his first touch."

Yang Yang nodded forcefully. ’I’m in that Unsteady stage.’

"The ’Stable’ stage is achieved through repeated practice in real-game situations, which forms a reliable judgment mechanism. This allows a player to consistently make the most appropriate decision for any kind of pass. And one step beyond Stable, through constant practice and accumulated match experience, it eventually becomes a conditioned reflex."

"Once you reach the fourth stage, no matter what kind of pass you receive or what kind of defense you’re up against, your body will effortlessly and automatically make the perfect judgment, employing the most suitable technique to control the ball."

Hearing this, Yang Yang truly felt as if he’d had a revelation.

He had seen Bergkamp on the pitch, controlling one difficult ball after another with an incomparable grace and composure, as if he were just taking a stroll. It made Yang Yang feel like worshiping him. But now, after listening to Old Ice’s analysis, he understood that Bergkamp’s first touch had truly reached the pinnacle of perfection; it had become an instinctual mechanism of his body.

"Generally speaking, amateur players are mostly in the first two stages. Some more outstanding amateurs who have received formal youth training from a young age might reach the third stage. But for a professional player, the third stage is already considered substandard. The fourth stage is the level a qualified professional should have."

Yang Yang couldn’t help but feel a little embarrassed after hearing that. He coughed heavily twice, as if to remind Old Ice to watch his words.

’That’s a low blow. Was it really necessary to be so direct?’

But the AI seemed to have no awareness of such social niceties and continued, "Although you’re only seventeen, you are still in the second stage, which is clearly substandard. Especially in the Champions League, a first touch like that will easily get you trapped by the opponent’s defense."

Yang Yang gave a wry smile. ’Do you have to be so blunt?’

"Fine, I admit it, my first touch is terrible. Just tell me what I need to do."

"It’s simple. Do two things."

"I’m listening," Yang Yang said, his expression turning serious.

"First, analysis. Carefully and deeply analyze every single action in [Bergkamp’s First Touch], not just the action itself, but also the context of what came before and after. Second, grueling practice—practice that closely simulates real-game situations."

Yang Yang understood. Only grueling practice that simulated real games would be meaningful for him.

And the analysis was, of course, to improve his judgment so he could handle the constantly changing situations on the pitch.

"Not only that, but in the review sessions after every training and match from now on, I will add a review of your first touch. I will analyze every single one of your touches to help you identify your problems and give you corrections."

Yang Yang nodded heavily. "Alright then. Let’s begin."

As soon as he finished speaking, a scene of Bergkamp controlling the ball instantly appeared on one of the stands of the Super Training field. A defender was just behind and to his side, but the Ice Prince’s entire motion looked graceful and composed, carrying a certain aesthetic beauty.

"A truly high-level first touch... every movement is textbook," Old Ice said faintly.

Yang Yang didn’t dare to be careless and began to carefully study the scene before him. As a player who had been through many matches himself, he could easily spot the key details.

"This is clearly a waist-high ball, but Bergkamp’s control is still textbook. His foot and shin are at a ninety-degree angle, and he receives it with the inside of his upturned foot. If I’m not mistaken, after he brings the ball down, he’ll let his lower leg drop with the momentum, lean back diagonally, and use his body to shield his position. The pressing defender won’t have any chance to get the ball, while he can control it with ease."

The moment Yang Yang finished speaking, the scene played out.

Sure enough, after controlling the ball, Bergkamp used his body to shield his position, blocking the defender who was pressing from behind him. The ball was in front of him, and the defender was completely powerless, able to do nothing but watch as Bergkamp brought it under control and passed it away.

Yang Yang had guessed correctly, but he didn’t feel much excitement.

He was only able to figure it out because he was watching as a detached observer. But Bergkamp had made such a complex judgment in an extremely brief instant during a fast-paced, ever-changing match. That was an ability far beyond Yang Yang’s reach.

He didn’t even need to look at Bergkamp; the goal Van der Vaart had scored just a while ago had left a deep impression on him.

But for that very reason, it only served to ignite Yang Yang’s fighting spirit even more.

He knew very well that he had to improve his first touch as quickly as possible. And not just his first touch, but also a series of other shortcomings like his passing and shooting. Only by doing so could he improve his competitiveness and become a more well-rounded, more powerful player.

Now, he was no longer satisfied with just being a professional player for Ajax.