The Coaching System-Chapter 56: Bouncing Back from Heartbreak

The defeat to Chelsea still lingered in the air.

Bradford had come within minutes of forcing extra time against a Premier League giant. They had led 2-0, fought back to 3-3, and then lost it all in the dying seconds.

For Jake Wilson, that match wasn't just a near-upset.

It was proof.

Proof that his team could fight at the highest level.

But the world of football was ruthless—there was no time to dwell.

League Two was still in full swing. The FA Cup third-round tie against Manchester City loomed. And if Bradford wanted to continue their incredible season, they had to move forward.

Post-Chelsea: The Team's Mentality

At training the next day, Jake saw it immediately.

The players were drained.

Carter looked frustrated. Ortega barely spoke. Even Novak, usually the loudest on the pitch, trained in silence.

Paul Roberts noticed it too.

"They're still thinking about the Chelsea match," Paul muttered as they watched the squad in a low-intensity drill.

Jake crossed his arms. "They need to get over it."

He clapped his hands, stepping forward.

"Alright, listen up!"

The players stopped, gathering around.

"I know that loss hurt," Jake said. "I know it feels like we were that close to something special. But let me remind you of something."

He looked each of them in the eyes.

"We're second in the league. We've beaten top clubs. We've proven that we belong at the highest level. That game wasn't an ending—it was just the beginning."

He let that settle before smirking.

"And the only way we prove that is by winning the next game."

A few nods. Collins straightened his shoulders. Novak exhaled. The message was clear.

It was time to move forward.

Match 1 – A Gritty 1-0 Victory

🔹 Opponent: Crawley Town (15th place, League Two)

🔹 Venue: Valley Parade (Home Match)

The echoes of their heartbreaking defeat against Chelsea still lingered, but Jake Wilson had no time to dwell. The focus had shifted—Bradford City had a league to win.

Crawley Town was a stubborn mid-table side, a team that sat deep and frustrated opponents with their low-block tactics. This wasn't going to be a free-flowing, end-to-end game.

This was going to be a battle of patience.

Pre-Match & Tactical Adjustments

Jake knew that some players were still fatigued from the high-intensity Chelsea game, so he rotated the squad slightly.

Starting XI (4-3-3):

Goalkeeper: Emeka Okafor

Defenders: James Richards (RB), Nathan Barnes (CB), Noah Fletcher (CB), Aiden Taylor (LB)

Midfielders: Daniel Lowe (CDM), Ryan Carter (CM), Alejandro Ortega (CM)

Forwards: Renan Silva (RW), Lukas Novak (ST), Jamie Collins (LW)

First Half

From the opening whistle, Bradford dominated possession, but breaking through Crawley's deep defensive line was proving to be a challenge.

The visitors sat in two compact lines—a 4-4-2 block—leaving no space between their midfield and defense. Every time Ortega or Carter looked up for a passing lane, they saw a wall of red shirts.

Jake paced the touchline, arms folded.

"Move the ball faster!" he barked. "Make them work!"

Bradford started shifting the ball from side to side, searching for gaps.

Key First-Half Moments:

17th minute

Collins played a sharp pass inside to Silva, who cut onto his left foot and unleashed a driven shot toward the bottom corner.

Crawley's goalkeeper, at full stretch, tipped it wide!

A few groans from the home crowd.

28th minute

Carter, seeing a rare gap in the Crawley defense, slid a perfect through-ball into the box.

Novak timed his run, took a touch, and fired low toward the far post—

Inches wide.

Novak clapped his hands in frustration.

Jake nodded from the sideline. "Keep going. It'll come."

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42nd minute

With Crawley defending deep, Ortega took matters into his own hands.

He shifted the ball onto his right foot, 25 yards from goal, and let fly—

The ball dipped viciously… SMASHED OFF THE CROSSBAR!

Gasps filled Valley Parade.

Crawley were hanging on.

HALFTIME: Bradford 0-0 Crawley

As the players walked into the dressing room, frustration was written all over their faces.

Jake didn't waste time.

"Relax," he said, looking around the room. "This is what they want—to frustrate us. But they can't sit that deep forever."

He pointed at Carter.

"Keep making those runs. Find the gaps."

Then he turned to Ortega.

"Start feeding the wingers faster. Let them take players on."

Finally, his eyes landed on Novak.

"Be ready. Your moment will come."

Novak exhaled and nodded.

Jake clapped his hands.

"Alright. Second half—let's finish this."

Second Half

Bradford started the second half with more urgency.

Instead of slow possession, they increased the tempo, moving the ball quicker, stretching Crawley's defensive line.

The visitors were tiring.

Jake saw it immediately.

🔄 60th Minute

Thompson ON, Novak OFF (Fresh legs upfront—Thompson's movement would disrupt Crawley's defense.)

Chapman ON, Lowe OFF (More attacking presence in midfield—Chapman added creativity.)

Bradford kept probing.

And then, in the 77th minute, the moment arrived.

77th Minute

Bradford won a corner after Silva's shot was deflected wide.

Ortega whipped in a dangerous delivery toward the back post.

Nathan Barnes—Bradford's towering center-back—rose highest, outjumping two Crawley defenders and powered a header into the roof of the net!

GOAL!

Valley Parade erupted!

Barnes ran to the corner flag, pumping his fist. His teammates mobbed him.

Jake smiled and turned to Paul Roberts.

"That's how you break a low block."

Paul smirked. "You called it."

Final 10 Minutes – Defending the Lead

Crawley finally started pushing forward, knowing they had to chase the game.

80th minute: Fletcher blocked a shot from their striker inside the box.

85th minute: Okafor claimed a dangerous cross, commanding his box well.

90th minute: Bradford won a free kick and played it short, keeping possession to kill the clock.

The referee blew the final whistle.

FINAL SCORE: Bradford 1-0 Crawley

A hard-fought victory, but exactly what they needed.

Barnes' header was the difference.

Jake shook hands with his players, already shifting his focus to the next game.

Post-Match Reactions

🗣️ Reporter: "Jake, a tough 1-0 win. Were you worried about the team's energy after the Chelsea match?"

🗣️ Jake: "Not at all. These guys are professionals. They know how to reset and move forward. Crawley made things difficult, but we stuck to our plan and got the win."

🗣️ Reporter: "Nathan Barnes scored the winner. He's been a key figure in your defense. How important is he to the team?"

🗣️ Jake: "Massive. He's a leader back there. And when we needed him today, he delivered."

🗣️ Reporter: "You've bounced back with a win, but Manchester City awaits in the FA Cup. Any thoughts on that?"

Jake chuckled.

"Let's just say… we love a challenge."

Match 2 – Statement Performance (4-1 Win!)

🔹 Opponent: Grimsby Town (12th place, League Two)

🔹 Venue: Blundell Park (Away Match)

Jake didn't hold back in this one. He demanded dominance.

Starting XI (4-2-3-1)

🧤 Goalkeeper: Okafor

🛡 Defenders: Richards (RB), Barnes (CB), Fletcher (CB), Hart (LB)

⚙️ Midfielders: Lowe (CDM), Ortega (CM)

🎯 Attacking Mid: Carter

🔥 Forwards: Silva (RW), Novak (ST), Collins (LW)

First Half – Relentless Attack

Bradford played like a team possessed.

12th minute: Novak opens the scoring with a sharp finish inside the box. (1-0!)

24th minute: Silva curls a beauty from 25 yards out! (2-0!)

38th minute: Collins smashes home a rebound after a Carter shot! (3-0!)

HALFTIME: 3-0 Bradford.

Second Half – Control & Counterattack

Bradford controlled the tempo after the break.

55th Minute – Grimsby pulled one back from a scrappy corner. (3-1)

🔄 62nd Minute – Substitutions:

Lowe OFF, Chapman ON (More defensive stability)

Novak OFF, Thompson ON (Resting Novak)

78th Minute – Carter seals it! (4-1!)

Ortega found Carter at the edge of the box.

Carter skipped past a defender and curled it into the top corner!

FINAL SCORE: 4-1 Bradford.

[Ding! New System Feature Unlocked]

Squad Morale Analysis:

Jake can now track player confidence, fatigue, and mindset.

It reveals that Carter, Silva, and Ortega are in peak form.

However, Novak is feeling exhausted—Jake makes a mental note to rotate him.

Jake smirked. "This will be useful."

FA Cup Third Round – Manchester City Awaits

The draw was brutal.

🗞 FA Cup Third Round: Bradford City vs. Manchester City 🗞

Pep Guardiola. Erling Haaland. Kevin De Bruyne.

This wasn't just any match.

This was the toughest test yet.

The media wasted no time writing Bradford off.

🗣️ "Can League Two's underdogs survive against the best team in England?"

Jake's response?

"We're not just here to survive. We're here to compete."

Conclusion

Bradford bounce back from the Chelsea loss with two crucial league wins.

The squad remains second in the table, firmly in the promotion race.

New system feature unlocked—Squad Morale Analysis.

FA Cup third round brings a massive challenge: Manchester City.

Jake Wilson?

He wasn't afraid.