Chapter 3: Prelude to the First Game
After finishing dinner at the club's restaurant, Situ Yunbing made his way out of the building, ready to head home. The evening was cool, and the soft hum of traffic filled the streets of Monaco. As soon as he stepped through the club's gates, a figure appeared in front of him, approaching quickly with a sense of urgency.
Startled, Situ Yunbing instinctively took a step back. Before he could properly assess the situation, the young man had already reached him, holding a stack of documents.
"Hello, Coach Situ!" the stranger said breathlessly, his voice full of energy. "My name is Alonzo—Jerome Alonzo. I want to work for Monaco, and I hope you'll hire me. I've prepared my analysis of the Ligue 1 teams, and I can do opponent analysis for you, offering targeted insights and suggestions. Please, give me a chance to work for the team!"
Situ Yunbing stood still, somewhat taken aback by the suddenness of the encounter. The young man in front of him couldn't have been more than twenty-five. He was about 1.8 meters tall, with bright, short blond hair and striking sapphire-blue eyes. His fair complexion and sharp, well-proportioned features made him look like he could be a model. Dressed casually in a crisp white sweatshirt, a slung crossbody bag, and black canvas shoes, the young man's appearance radiated enthusiasm and confidence.
For a moment, Situ Yunbing just stared, taking in the self-assuredness of this impromptu job applicant. There was something endearing about the boldness of it all, the willingness to approach him without hesitation.
Despite the young man's sincerity, Situ Yunbing didn't reach for the documents. Instead, he offered an apologetic smile and shook his head.
"I appreciate your enthusiasm, Jerome," he said, his tone kind but firm. "But I don't have the authority to hire anyone. I've just joined the club myself, and right now, Monaco isn't looking to recruit new coaches. Your passion is commendable, but I don't want you to waste your time here."
With that, Situ Yunbing gave him a respectful nod and stepped around the young man, heading toward the nearby bus stop. He had a long journey ahead to get home.
As Situ walked away, he could feel the young man's eyes on his back. Glancing briefly over his shoulder, he saw the determination in Jerome Alonzo's gaze hadn't faded. Despite the polite rejection, there was no doubt that this young man wasn't easily discouraged.
...
In the early morning light, Situ Yunbing walked through the grand entrance of the church, following a steady stream of worshippers. Today was different. Today, he was no longer just a man; he was the head coach of AS Monaco.
He regarded this day as sacred.
For him, Monaco offered only two places where he felt a sense of belonging: the stadium and the church. The rest of the principality was beyond his reach, defined by its opulence and luxury, where every corner demanded wealth he did not possess.
As the church bells tolled, signaling the start of the day, white doves soared over the square, their wings catching the first rays of sunlight. Inside the church, everyone was solemn and focused. Most of the men wore tailored suits, while the women dazzled in high fashion, their faces adorned with jewels. In this moment of prayer, the usual greed and ambition that ran rampant in Monaco seemed to be on pause. Everyone appeared devout.
Situ Yunbing, dressed modestly in contrast to the congregation, felt almost invisible among them. Yet, he didn't mind. He wasn't here for status. He was here to reflect, to pray for guidance as he stepped into his new role.
When the service ended and the crowd dispersed, Situ Yunbing lingered outside the church, watching the well-dressed men and women climb into their Ferraris, Maseratis, and other luxury cars. He felt a wave of melancholy as he realized how different their lives were from his own. While they would likely spend their day at lavish hot spring resorts, cheering on Formula 1 races, or gambling at the Monte Carlo Casino, he would be grinding away at the football club, trying to find a way to succeed in this glittering yet unforgiving city.
He glanced back at the imposing church, standing tall like a dividing line between the sacred and the secular. His left foot was in the world of ambition and excess, while his right remained in the domain of prayer and humility. He had never felt such a sharp contrast between the mundane and the divine.
Shaking off his thoughts, Situ Yunbing began walking along the picturesque coastline toward the Monaco club. The endless blue of the Mediterranean stretched out beside him, but his mind was already on the task ahead. Today marked his first official day as head coach, and the whole of France was watching.
The news of his appointment had spread like wildfire, igniting a wave of criticism. Led by French Football magazine, pundits and journalists ridiculed Monaco's management for hiring an unproven Chinese coach. They mocked the club's decision, claiming it was a humiliation to the legacy of the Monaco royal family.
While Situ Yunbing bore the brunt of the skepticism, the club's chairman, Jérôme de Bontin, faced even harsher backlash. The summer turmoil had spilled into the new season, and the dismissal of previous coach Ricardo Gomes had only intensified the chaos.
Even Prince Albert had distanced himself from the decision, telling reporters he hadn't been consulted before the club appointed Situ Yunbing.
Despite the media storm, Situ Yunbing remained calm. He understood that doubters would always exist. After all, his coaching credentials were slim—he held a UEFA A-level coaching license, but he lacked any substantial professional coaching experience. A license, as everyone knew, didn't guarantee success. Like a driver's license, it merely allowed you onto the road; it didn't make you a good driver.
Arriving at the club, Situ Yunbing approached the training ground with the same calm. He wasn't here to be rattled by public opinion. His focus was on the job, and he knew that, in time, his work would speak for itself.
By 9:30 a.m., most of the players had already changed into their training kits and were warming up on the field. When Situ Yunbing arrived with his coaching staff, the players turned to see him, and despite knowing he was their new coach, many were visibly surprised. He was younger than many of them, which would inevitably make some players question his authority.
Milonas, Situ Yunbing's assistant, acted as his translator, turning his English instructions into French for the team. On the sidelines stood another translator, this one specifically for the team's South Korean player, Park Chu-young.
Situ Yunbing introduced himself briefly to the team, his voice steady, ignoring any signs of doubt or confusion from the players. He knew that respect had to be earned, and words alone wouldn't achieve that. Once he finished speaking, he handed over the training session to his assistant coach, Jean Petit, allowing the team to start their usual routine.
For the most part, Situ Yunbing didn't alter the training structure that was already in place. They began with warm-ups and moved into their standard drills. However, during the last half-hour of the session, he gathered all the players together for something different.
"We're going to work on off-the-ball movement and passing," he announced, seeing the players' puzzled expressions. He asked the team's main midfielder, Camel Meriem, to pass him the ball. "Meriem, take a shot," he said casually.
Meriem looked confused. "Coach, the ball is at your feet, not mine," he replied.
Situ Yunbing nodded. "Alright then, pass the ball to me," he said.
Meriem spread his hands in frustration. "But I can't. You're standing on the ball."
Situ Yunbing smiled and clapped his hands. "Exactly. You can't shoot, and you can't pass—because the ball isn't with you. Starting today, I'm going to teach you a new concept. Football is played by 22 players on the field, but there's only one ball. If we control the ball, the other team can't attack. And if they can't attack, they can't score. That's how we make ourselves invincible."
He paused, looking around at the players. Some were nodding thoughtfully, while others still appeared skeptical.
"The key," Situ Yunbing continued, "is that we have to control the ball exceptionally well. If we can master that, we dictate the game."
The year was 2008, and while possession-based football wasn't entirely new, it hadn't yet become the dominant force it would soon be. Spain had just won the European Championship that summer, signaling the rise of tiki-taka, but the full tactical revolution hadn't yet swept across Europe. It would take Barcelona's dominance in the following years for the strategy to reach its peak.
Situ Yunbing knew that Monaco couldn't become Barcelona—not with their current squad—but he believed that by instilling modern football principles, he could improve the team's overall performance. In Ligue 1, a league not as competitive as others in Europe, even small improvements could make a big difference.
...
...
"Move actively after passing the ball! Don't stand still!"
"Try to take the ball with one touch—speed it up, faster!"
"Keep close to your teammates, don't stand too far apart. Observe more, watch the movement of your teammates!"
Situ Yunbing barked orders from the sideline, intensifying the team's passing coordination drills. For 40 minutes, he drilled the players on passing and receiving with increased focus and intensity.
As the head coach, Situ Yunbing couldn't help but scrutinize each player's abilities closely. He quickly identified who was excelling in the session—players with good ball control, experience, and tactical awareness stood out. Camel Meriem, Diego Pérez, and Juan Pino were among the players who adapted well to his instructions. Meanwhile, younger players like Yohan Mollo and Jerko Leko showed enthusiasm, moving actively and trying to keep up with the new demands.
However, Situ Yunbing also noticed some areas that needed improvement. One observation that stood out was the tactical understanding of some of the players, particularly those from different footballing backgrounds. The tactical literacy of some of the black players lagged slightly behind their European and South American counterparts, a gap Situ Yunbing knew he would have to bridge with patience and detailed instruction.
During the break, Situ Yunbing gathered with his coaching staff to discuss the training's effectiveness. The assistant coaches, who had initially been skeptical of the young, unproven coach, were slowly coming around. On his first day, Situ Yunbing had shown that he had a solid grasp of football tactics, and the concepts he was introducing seemed fresh, if a little challenging.
While not everyone was fully convinced, some of the coaches were beginning to be cautiously optimistic. They started to think that Situ Yunbing's approach might bring much-needed change to a struggling Monaco side.
As the afternoon training session wound down, Situ Yunbing took the opportunity to engage with the players one-on-one. With Milonas translating, he explained his tactical ideas in more detail, trying to ensure the players grasped the changes he was implementing.
Most players, sensing that Monaco was undergoing a revolution both at the management and tactical levels, listened attentively. The team understood that Situ Yunbing had the full backing of the club's management, and whether they liked it or not, they needed to adapt to his methods if they wanted to succeed.
When South Korean player Park Chu-young approached Situ Yunbing, he seemed distracted, his eyes fixed on the coach but his mind elsewhere. As Situ Yunbing explained the tactical changes, Park Chu-young's expression remained blank, as though he wasn't absorbing a word.
After Situ Yunbing finished speaking, Park Chu-young raised his hand to ask a question, his face reflecting a mix of skepticism and confusion.
"I've never heard anything about you coaching in China. Are you sure you were really there?" Park asked, the words coming through his translator but carrying an edge of doubt.
The question caught Situ Yunbing off guard. After spending all morning and afternoon working to instill his ideas, being questioned about his credibility struck a nerve. His resume—or lack thereof—was his biggest vulnerability, and hearing Park Chu-young casually challenge his background in front of the team was enough to make his blood boil.
Situ Yunbing took a deep breath, holding back his frustration, but his tone sharpened as he responded.
"Let me ask you this—have you heard of Shang Yang? Or Su Shi? Or Wei Qing?" he demanded, his eyes narrowing.
Park Chu-young looked confused, shaking his head.
Situ Yunbing pressed on, his voice carrying more bite. "No? Well, they're far more famous than I am, and you've never heard of them. Does that make them any less important? You think because you haven't heard of something, it doesn't exist?"
Park Chu-young's expression turned uncomfortable as he realized the coach's frustration. Situ Yunbing, however, wasn't done.
"You're ignorant if you think knowing everything makes you better. Football is the same—there's always something you don't know. Focus on improving your game, and less on questioning others. Now, get back to training."
Park Chu-young, sensing the tension, nodded, his face flushed. Without another word, he turned and walked back to the pitch, while the rest of the team exchanged glances. The players hadn't expected such a sharp reaction from their new coach, but it was clear Situ Yunbing wasn't afraid to assert himself when needed.
As Park Chu-young returned to training, Situ Yunbing tried to calm his irritation and refocus on the bigger picture. He knew that, as a young and relatively unproven coach, he would face challenges from his players, especially given the unconventional path that had brought him to this role. But if they questioned him, he was determined to answer through results—on the training ground and, more importantly, in matches.
Still, Situ Yunbing couldn't shake his frustration. Park Chu-young had not only shown disrespect, but he was also one of the key players De Bontin had signed during the summer, with the clear intention of opening up the Korean market. De Bontin had even made a public statement after securing the Ligue 1 broadcasting rights in Korea for the first time, crediting Monaco with a "great contribution" to the league's expansion into Asia.
Yet despite Park's importance from a marketing perspective, Situ Yunbing knew he had to establish his authority, and Park Chu-young presented the perfect opportunity. Park had no strong footing in Monaco's dressing room, no deep connections with the other players. In other words, he couldn't stir up any real opposition.
The small storm passed quickly, and the team resumed training as Situ Yunbing kept a close eye on their progress, actively promoting his new tactical concepts and system.
Two days later, the players who had been away on international duty returned to Monaco. With their arrival, the training ground felt more energized, and Situ Yunbing was pleased to see the team beginning to embrace his ideas. Passing drills were more coordinated, and players were showing greater awareness of their positioning on the pitch. He watched them closely, his excitement growing as the first match of his tenure approached.
Despite the outside media continuing to question his appointment, Situ Yunbing felt little of the pressure. Monaco, after all, was a small club in terms of fanbase, with relatively few local supporters, so the public scrutiny wasn't as intense as it might have been elsewhere. As for the players, although some still harbored doubts about their new coach, none were willing to openly challenge him, especially after seeing how he had handled the situation with Park Chu-young. And besides, it was early days—everyone knew that the true measure of a coach would come from the results on the pitch.
Situ Yunbing was under no illusions. He knew that his authority and credibility would only grow if he could lead the team to victory. Winning matches would silence the doubters, both within the club and beyond.
On September 13th, nearly a week into his new role, the day of reckoning arrived. The fifth round of Ligue 1 had come, and Monaco was set to face Lorient at home.
In a pre-match interview, Situ Yunbing stated confidently, "I hope Monaco will show refreshing abilities on the pitch tonight." The French media, however, paid little attention to his words. The spotlight that weekend was firmly on the match between Bordeaux and Marseille, and Monaco's encounter with Lorient barely registered on the radar.
As the clock approached 8:00 p.m., the Louis II Stadium in Monaco began to fill with the small but loyal home crowd. Inside the dressing room, Situ Yunbing stood quietly, looking at the red-and-white jerseys hanging neatly in each player's locker. The Monaco crest, with its golden crown atop the red and white vertical stripes, stirred something in him. The club hadn't won a league title in years, and the crown felt more symbolic of a lost era than a reflection of their current status.
Still, after a week of wearing Monaco's training gear, Situ Yunbing had developed an attachment to the club. He was the coach of Monaco now, and the thought of making a name for himself here—of bringing the club back to glory—filled him with purpose.
Think of this as your home, he reminded himself. This is where it begins.
As the players returned to the dressing room after their warm-ups, Situ Yunbing walked to the center, clapping his hands to get their attention. He cleared his throat and delivered his pre-match speech, his voice steady but filled with intensity.
"We haven't won in our last three league matches," he began. "But I know you're all capable of much more than that. If we stick together, take this game seriously, and put into practice what we've worked on in training, we can win this match—and every match that follows!"
He paused, locking eyes with several of the players as he spoke. "Our goal is to win the league title by the end of this season. To get there, we need ambition, we need fighting spirit, and we need to start now—right here, in this match. Let's show them what Monaco is capable of!"
Some of the starting players nodded, visibly energized by his words, though others seemed less moved, their expressions more reserved. But Situ Yunbing wasn't concerned. He knew that winning over every player wouldn't happen overnight. Success on the pitch would do the real convincing.
As the players stood up and prepared to leave the dressing room, Situ Yunbing positioned himself near the door. He made a point of looking each player in the eye as they walked out, repeating the same words to each one: "Come on, work hard today."
His assistant coach, Jean Petit, and the rest of the staff observed Situ Yunbing closely. They had grown to respect him over the past week, impressed by his passion and energy, but they knew better than to expect a miraculous turnaround from words alone. If turning around a struggling team were that simple, every coach would have an easy job.
The real test was about to begin. No amount of motivational speeches or tactical insights mattered unless they translated into results on the field.
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