The Coaching System-Chapter 130: EFL Cup Final Preparations – The Road to Wembley

Jake’s Approach – Preparing for the Challenge Ahead

With the league title secured, Jake could have eased off in training. He could have let his players enjoy the moment, soak in the achievement.

But that wasn’t his style.

The EFL Cup Final was still ahead. And for Bradford City, this was the biggest match in their modern history.

Everything changed in training. The intensity, the focus—every session had a purpose.

Jake gathered his squad before their first full session back.

"This is it," he said, pacing in front of them. "Wembley. Tottenham. A chance to make history."

The players listened in silence, eyes locked on their manager.

"This isn’t a league game. It’s not another cup tie. It’s ninety minutes to decide a trophy."

He let the words sink in.

"They think we’re underdogs. They think this is already decided."

His expression hardened.

"They don’t know us."

The energy in the room shifted. The players weren’t just motivated—they were ready to fight.

Training Focus – Sharpening Every Detail

Bradford’s approach to the final had to be flawless. Tottenham weren’t just another Premier League side—they were a team that expected to win trophies. Jake knew that if they played Spurs at their own game, they would lose.

So, they wouldn’t.

They would make Tottenham uncomfortable, force them into areas they didn’t want to be in, and exploit every weakness possible.

For the next two weeks, training was relentless. Every session was focused on three key areas: defensive resilience, pressing triggers, and counter-attacking precision.

Defensive Drills – Surviving the Storm

Jake knew Tottenham would dominate possession. They would look to pin Bradford back, cycle the ball, and wait for gaps to appear. If Bradford’s defensive structure wasn’t perfect, Spurs would tear them apart.

The solution? Training against relentless waves of attacks.

The backline practiced against continuous 5v4 situations, simulating Tottenham’s high press and attacking overloads.Barnes and Min-jae focused on reading Son’s movement, ensuring the South Korean forward never had space to exploit behind them.Ibáñez and Vélez drilled relentlessly on how to track Maddison—if Spurs’ main creator had no time to think, their attacks would become predictable.Rojas and Taylor worked specifically on handling Kulusevski and Tel, two direct wingers who thrived in one-on-one situations. Every time they were beaten in training, they reset and did it again.

During one session, Silva cut inside and fired a shot past Okafor. Jake immediately blew his whistle.

"Again," he called out. "If that happens in the final, we’re dead."

The players jogged back to position. Jake walked to Barnes and Min-jae.

"You have to communicate. One of you steps up, the other covers. If Son runs in behind, it’s too late."

Min-jae nodded. Barnes clapped his hands, resetting his focus.

They repeated the drill. This time, no shot got through.

Pressing Triggers – Forcing Mistakes

Tottenham wanted space. Jake’s job was to make sure they never had it.

After analyzing Spurs’ recent matches, he saw a clear vulnerability: they struggled when pressed aggressively.

So, training revolved around one thing—pressing in waves.

The team worked in small-sided drills, learning exactly when to press and when to hold shape.Vélez and Ibáñez became the key pressers in midfield, focusing on suffocating Bentancur and Maddison before they could pick out passes.Mensah and Rasmussen practiced trapping Tottenham’s full-backs, pressing them into making rushed clearances instead of controlled passes forward.Novak and Costa focused on cutting passing lanes, ensuring Spurs couldn’t play out from the back easily.

One drill simulated a Tottenham goal kick. The defenders were instructed to play out as Spurs would, while the midfielders and attackers hunted them down.

If Spurs’ defenders managed to pass their way out, the drill restarted.

Jake shouted from the sidelines. "They don’t get a free pass! Close them down—NOW!"

The players intensified their pressure.

Ibáñez forced a mistake from Tottenham’s backup midfielders, pouncing on a loose touch and immediately launching a counterattack.

That was the goal. Make Spurs uncomfortable. Force them into mistakes. And when they make them—punish them.

Counter-Attacking Efficiency – Exploiting Spurs’ High Line

Jake’s final and most important weapon was speed.

Tottenham played an aggressive high defensive line—which meant one thing.

Space.

If Bradford could transition quickly, they could tear Spurs apart on the break.

Novak and Costa trained relentlessly on beating the offside trap. Timing was everything—if they mistimed their runs, the attack was over before it started.Rojas and Rasmussen practiced quick diagonal passes—the exact type of ball that could slice through Spurs’ center-backs.The entire squad focused on fast-break transitions, turning defense into attack in three passes or fewer.

One drill replicated a match situation.

Ibáñez would intercept a pass, Vélez had to transition forward within two touches, and Mensah or Silva would release Novak or Costa into space.

The first few attempts were sloppy. Vélez took too long. The wingers hesitated. The strikers ran offside.

Jake stopped the drill.

"Again."

They reset.

This time, it was perfect.

Ibáñez won the ball. Vélez took one touch and immediately found Mensah. The Ghanaian winger sprinted forward and slipped a ball into Novak’s path.

The Czech striker buried his shot into the bottom corner.

That was what they needed in the final.

Speed. Precision. Ruthlessness.

Final Thoughts – The Blueprint to Winning

Jake wasn’t naive.

Tottenham were favorites for a reason. They had world-class players, a high-tempo attack, and the ability to destroy teams in minutes.

But that didn’t mean they were unbeatable.

Bradford had a plan.

Defend deep, frustrate them.Press high in key moments, force mistakes.Exploit the space behind their defense with speed.

Every session. Every drill.

It all led to Wembley.

One game.

One chance.

Bradford would be ready.

System Insights – Breaking Down Tottenham

The system’s prediction was ruthless.

Tottenham: 70% win probability

Bradford: 20%

Draw: 10%

Jake didn’t react. He had seen these numbers before. The system had doubted them against Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Leicester, and Newcastle.

And yet, here they were—one game away from winning it all.

Still, the breakdown provided crucial insights.

Tottenham’s Key Strengths

Elite Finishing – Heung-Min Son and Mathys Tel didn’t need five chances to score. One was enough. Give them space, and the game could be over before Bradford had time to react.

Midfield Control – James Maddison and Rodrigo Bentancur dictated games effortlessly. If they were allowed to find their rhythm, Tottenham would control every minute of possession.

Defensive Strength – Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven were absent, but Kevin Danso and Ben Davies were still no pushovers. They were aggressive, aerially dominant, and capable of shutting down weaker attacks.

Tottenham’s Key Weaknesses

High Defensive Line – Spurs pressed high and committed numbers forward, leaving huge spaces behind. If Bradford could break quickly, they could get in behind.

Struggled Against High Pressing – Teams that pressed them early forced mistakes. Tottenham wanted control—if they didn’t have it, they became vulnerable.

Reliance on Maddison – Shut Maddison down, and Tottenham’s entire attacking structure became predictable. Everything ran through him. Cut off his supply, and Spurs’ creativity suffered.

Jake leaned back in his chair, staring at the notes.

The weaknesses were there. The opportunity existed.

But only if Bradford executed the plan flawlessly.

This wasn’t just any match.

This was a final.

One mistake could end it all.

The Mental Aspect – Handling the Pressure of Wembley

Tactics would only take them so far.

The biggest challenge wasn’t just beating Tottenham.

It was dealing with Wembley.

90,000 fans. National television. Millions watching.

For many of his players, this was the biggest game of their careers.

Jake could see it in their eyes.

The tension. The weight of the moment settling onto their shoulders.

Some of them tried to hide it—clenching their fists, pacing around the dressing room. Others sat completely still, lost in their thoughts.

Jake stepped forward.

He had to remind them.

"We’ve already defied the odds," he said, his voice steady. "We’re here for a reason."

A pause.

"One game. One chance."

He turned to Novak, his main striker. The man who had dragged Bradford through the toughest battles.

"They don’t expect you to score," Jake said.

Novak smirked. "Then they don’t know me."

Jake shifted his gaze to Mensah and Silva—two of the most dangerous players in the squad.

Follow current novℯls on ƒгeewёbnovel.com.

"They don’t expect you to tear them apart."

Silva cracked his knuckles. "They’ll learn."

Jake turned to Okafor. His goalkeeper.

"They don’t expect you to be the hero."

Okafor’s eyes were cold, focused. "They’re wrong."

Jake stepped back, letting the silence hang in the air.

Then Barnes stood up.

His voice was firm.

"No fear."

The words hung in the air for a second.

Then Vélez repeated it.

"No fear."

Novak nodded. "No fear."

Soon, the entire squad was on their feet.

No fear.

No fear.

The message spread through the room like wildfire.

They weren’t just going to Wembley.

They were going to win.