The Coaching System

📌 Saturday, January 17 – FA Cup Fourth Round (Away vs. Man City)

Bradford had been through battles before.

They had beaten Premier League clubs. They had defied expectations. They had rewritten the script in this competition.

But this?

This was Manchester City at the Etihad.

The reigning champions. The best team in the country.

And last time?

8-0.

That result still hung in the background, a reminder of how brutal City could be.

This was Bradford's chance at redemption.

The System's Brutal Prediction – A Game Unlike Any Other

Jake already knew what was coming before he checked the system's probability.

Manchester City weren't just a great team—they were a machine.

A relentless, perfectly drilled, and almost unstoppable force.

They had been crushing teams in the Premier League. They had world-class players in every position. They had experience, depth, and a tactical system that had been perfected over years.

And according to the system, Bradford had no real chance.

The Numbers Were As Harsh As EverMan City: 80% win probabilityBradford: 10%Draw: 10%

This was the biggest gap in probability the system had ever given Bradford.

Even against Arsenal, Leicester, and Crystal Palace, there had always been something to exploit—a defensive weakness, a tactical flaw, an overconfident squad.

But here?

No weaknesses found.

It was a brutal reality.

If Bradford were going to get a result, it wouldn't come from a mistake by City.

It would have to come from pure resilience and a perfect game plan.

Manchester City's Key Strengths – Why They Were So Dangerous

Complete Control of Possession

With Rodri, De Bruyne, and Foden in midfield, City didn't just dominate the ball—they controlled the game itself.They dictated the tempo, shifting gears at will, moving teams around until they created openings.Against weaker sides, they would routinely finish matches with over 70% possession.

Pressing Structure – Suffocating Opponents

City didn't just dominate when they had the ball. They dominated without it.The moment a team won possession, City's press would smother them, forcing them into mistakes before they could even get out of their own half.Rodri and De Bruyne cut off passing lanes. Haaland, Grealish, and Bernardo Silva closed down defenders before they could think.Bradford couldn't afford to play out from the back. They would be punished for it.

Attacking Intelligence – Ruthless in the Final Third

Haaland's movement inside the box was unlike any striker in the world. If he got half a chance, he scored.Grealish's dribbling and creativity caused nightmares for defenders. One moment of hesitation, and he would be in behind.Bernardo Silva's ability to create space allowed City to break down even the deepest low blocks.

Defensive Solidity – Almost No Gaps to Exploit

Even if Bradford somehow managed to break forward, Rúben Dias and Joško Gvardiol would be waiting.Both center-backs were strong, quick, and composed. They didn't get pulled out of position. They didn't make reckless challenges.The full-backs didn't bomb forward recklessly either. They stayed disciplined, cutting off passing lanes and forcing teams backward.

No flaws. No easy targets. No room for error.

Manchester City's Weaknesses – If They Had Any at All

Jake searched through the system's breakdown, looking for something—anything—that Bradford could use.

It wasn't much, but there were two small areas that could be exploited.

Occasional Overcommitment in Attack

City were used to dominating the ball. They pushed numbers forward, expecting to recover possession instantly if they lost it.If a team broke through that first wave of pressure, City's defense could be exposed temporarily.The problem? Most teams never got through.

Haaland's Lack of Involvement in Build-Up Play

Unlike City's previous strikers, Haaland didn't drop deep to link play as much.That meant if City were forced to play through midfield for too long, they could become predictable.But again—most teams couldn't stop them long enough for it to matter.

That was it. That was all Jake had to work with.

Two minor weaknesses. And even those would be incredibly difficult to exploit.

Jake's Tactical Plan – Containment & Counters

Jake knew there was no scenario where Bradford could outplay Manchester City.

Trying to match them in possession? Impossible.

Trying to press them high? Suicidal.

Trying to defend deep for 90 minutes without a plan? Pointless.

So instead, Bradford had to make City uncomfortable.

They had to frustrate them.

If City got into a rhythm early, it was over before it began. But if Bradford could stay compact, cut off passing lanes, and make City work for every inch of space?

Then maybe—just maybe—there was a way to survive.

Stay Compact & Disciplined

The first and most important priority: defensive shape.

No high pressing. No unnecessary risks.Two deep banks of four at all times.Frustrate City. Force them wide. Make them work for every shot.

This wasn't about stopping City completely. That was impossible.

But City wanted to play through the middle. They wanted to pull teams apart with quick, intricate passing.

Bradford couldn't let that happen.

So Jake drilled them on defensive structure.

Novak and Richter would drop deep, forcing City's center-backs to have the ball but cutting off easy passes into midfield.Ibáñez and Vélez would sit just in front of the defense, constantly shifting to block passing lanes into De Bruyne and Foden.The wingers—Walsh and Rasmussen—had to track back religiously, doubling up on City's full-backs to prevent overloads out wide.Min-jae and Fletcher would stay tight to Haaland, never giving him space to turn in the box.

If Bradford could force City into a slow, predictable passing game, where they had to recycle the ball wide instead of slicing through the middle?

That was already a small victory.

Minimize Mistakes – No Gifts to City

If there was one thing Jake knew, it was this: City don't just win games. Teams lose against them.

One mistake.

One bad pass.

One lapse in concentration.

And City pounce.

So the plan was clear:

No playing out from the back. If City pressed high, Bradford would clear it. No hesitation. No risky short passes under pressure.Take no risks in midfield. Vélez and Ibáñez had been instructed—if City surrounded them, don't try to dribble or pass through it. Just go long.Avoid unnecessary fouls near the box. City's set-piece delivery was deadly. Bradford couldn't afford to give away free-kicks in dangerous areas.Time-waste when possible. Every throw-in, every goal kick, every stoppage—Bradford needed to take the sting out of the game whenever they could.

If Bradford lost, they would lose on City's terms.

Not because they made it easy for them.

Be Ruthless on the Counter

Bradford would not get many chances.

Jake knew that. The players knew that.

But when the chances came, they had to take them.

This was why he started Walsh and Rasmussen on the wings.

Walsh and Rasmussen had to run directly at City's defense whenever Bradford won possession.They had to be fearless, taking on defenders instead of playing it safe.They had to stretch the pitch, forcing City's full-backs to second-guess whether to push forward.

And in attack?

Novak and Richter needed to make every attack count. There wouldn't be many, so when the ball came, they couldn't hesitate.Novak's hold-up play would be crucial. If he could win duels and bring others into play, Bradford might get rare chances to break.Richter's movement had to be perfect. He had to make diagonal runs into the channels, pulling City's defenders apart and creating pockets of space.Jake's Final Thoughts – Can They Survive?

Jake knew this game would push his players beyond their limits.

He had seen teams collapse against City after just 20 minutes.

Bradford couldn't afford that.

The plan wasn't to win.

Not yet.

The plan was to survive.

And if they executed it?

Maybe—**just maybe—**they could stay in the fight longer than last time.

Bradford's Starting XI (4-4-2) – Adjusted for Silva's Suspension

Jake had no illusions about how this game would play out.

They weren't going to dominate possession. They weren't going to control the tempo.

But that didn't mean they were going to roll over.

The lineup reflected that—a mix of defensive discipline, counter-attacking threat, and raw determination.

This was not a game for experimenting or taking unnecessary risks. Every selection was made with a purpose. Every player had a clear role.

Bradford knew exactly what was coming. They knew they would spend most of the game without the ball. They knew they would be pinned deep inside their own half for long stretches.

But if they defended well, if they frustrated City long enough, there was always a chance.

A single counterattack. A defensive lapse. One moment of chaos in City's perfect system.

Jake had drilled that message into them all week.

Stay compact. Stay disciplined. Take your chances.

Goalkeeper:Emeka Okafor – The man who would have to be at his absolute best. City would test him, over and over again. He had already proven himself in big matches, but this would be a different kind of challenge. A game where every save mattered, where one mistake could open the floodgates.Defenders:Julian Rojas (Right-Back) – Brought into the side specifically for his defensive ability. His main task was to stay compact, keep his position, and contain Grealish. No risky overlapping runs. No getting caught out high up the pitch. This was about discipline.

Kang Min-jae (Center-Back) – The aggressive enforcer. Haaland would be the biggest threat on the pitch, and Min-jae was given one simple task: make his life as difficult as possible. Stick to him. Stay physical. Don't give him an inch of space.

Noah Fletcher (Center-Back) – Chosen for his aerial presence and strength. He had the physicality to deal with Haaland's power, but he would also need to be smart, reading City's movement, making sure he wasn't dragged out of position.

Aiden Taylor (Left-Back) – A purely defensive selection. No forward runs. No unnecessary risks. His focus was entirely on containing Bernardo Silva and blocking crosses from the left.

Midfielders:Leo Rasmussen (Right Midfield) – Originally set to play on the left, he was now shifted to the right due to Silva's suspension. Rasmussen was a direct runner, capable of carrying the ball forward when Bradford had rare chances to attack. He would also need to track back, covering Rojas whenever Grealish or Foden drifted wide.

Andrés Ibáñez (Central Midfield) – The deep-lying playmaker. His job was to keep possession when possible, to control the tempo whenever Bradford had brief moments of the ball. But against City's press, he wouldn't have much time. His ability to pick the right pass under pressure would be critical.

Santiago Vélez (Central Midfield) – The workhorse. Vélez had been selected purely for his energy and ability to break up play. He would be the first line of pressure against De Bruyne and Rodri, tasked with forcing mistakes and disrupting City's rhythm.

Ethan Walsh (Left Midfield) – A big opportunity for the young winger. With Silva suspended, Walsh had been given a start on the left. His pace and dribbling could be a weapon on the counter, but he would also have to do a lot of defensive work, covering Taylor and tracking City's overlapping full-backs.

Forwards:Lukas Novak (Striker) – The target man. Novak wouldn't see much of the ball, but when he did, he needed to make it count. His hold-up play would be crucial in relieving pressure, giving the midfield a chance to push forward.

Tobias Richter (Striker) – The runner. Novak would battle for the ball, but Richter was the one expected to make dangerous runs in behind whenever a counterattack was possible. His speed was Bradford's best chance of sneaking a goal.

Pre-Match Training – Preparing for the Storm

Jake had a day to get his squad mentally and physically ready.

One days to prepare for the biggest challenge of the season.

Bradford were not expected to win. The system had given them just a 10% chance. The odds were stacked against them.

But Jake didn't believe in impossible games.

He had seen underdogs fight before. He had seen teams hold out against superior opposition and make them uncomfortable.

And if Bradford had any hope of doing that, they had to be flawless in execution.

The training sessions were not about outplaying City. That was never an option.

This was about survival.

Every drill. Every instruction. Every tactical tweak was designed for one purpose—staying in the fight for as long as possible.

Defensive Shape & Transitions

The first session was entirely focused on defensive discipline.

The team spent hours drilling their low block. Every player needed to know exactly where they had to be at all times. No chasing the ball. No breaking from the structure.Each player had a clear responsibility for marking and tracking runners. If City found gaps between the lines, it would be over before it began.Min-jae and Fletcher worked specifically on handling Haaland's movement. The Norwegian forward was unlike any striker they had faced. His positioning, his runs, his physicality—if they gave him an inch, he would take a mile.

Jake set up simulation drills with City's exact attacking patterns.

The midfield played as De Bruyne and Foden, constantly moving between the lines.The wingers acted as Grealish and Silva, drifting inside and creating overloads.And the strikers? They rotated as Haaland, making unpredictable runs, forcing Min-jae and Fletcher to stay switched on.

It was about building muscle memory.

Bradford would not get time to think at the Etihad. They had to react on instinct.

Counter-Attack Drills

Jake knew the only way Bradford could score was on the counter.

And counter-attacks had to be fast, direct, and ruthless.

Quick, sharp passing—winning the ball and breaking forward in under three passes.No hesitation. No sideways passes. No slowing down. The moment they won the ball, it had to go forward.Novak and Richter worked on timing their runs perfectly to avoid being caught offside. City's defense played high, but their defenders were smart. One mistimed run, and the attack would be wasted.

The key to the counter-attacks?

Rasmussen and Walsh.

They were drilled on driving forward with the ball, taking risks, attacking defenders in one-on-one situations.If they hesitated? City's full-backs would recover.If they took too many touches? City's midfielders would close them down.

It had to be perfect.

Win the ball.Find the pass.Attack immediately.

There would be few opportunities.

But if Bradford got one?

They had to take it.

Mental Preparation

Jake knew the biggest danger wasn't just City's quality—it was the psychological pressure.

Teams walked into the Etihad and lost the game before it even started.

He wouldn't let that happen to Bradford.

Before the final training session, he gathered the players in the dressing room.

He looked at them—not as underdogs, not as a team expected to lose, but as footballers capable of fighting.

"You don't panic," Jake said, his voice calm but firm. "You don't rush. You stick to the plan."

"City will have the ball. A lot. They will pass it around, try to pull us apart, try to make us lose focus. That's what they do."

He paused, scanning the room.

"But that doesn't mean they've beaten us."

He pointed at Min-jae. "You do your job, Haaland doesn't get a free shot on goal."

He turned to Ibáñez. "You keep the ball when we have it, we take the pressure off our defense."

He looked at Walsh and Rasmussen. "You break forward without fear. They will not expect you to run at them. Make them uncomfortable."

Finally, he locked eyes with Okafor.

"They will test you," Jake said. "More than any other game this season."

Okafor nodded. "I'm ready."

"Good," Jake said, stepping back. "Because when you walk onto that pitch, you don't think about them. You don't think about their stadium, their trophies, their reputation."

"You think about us."

A pause.

"They are Manchester City."

Another pause.

"But we are Bradford City."

And now?

It was time to fight.