บท 8: No Way Back
Situ Yunbing had Monaco's unique nature to thank for some respite. In this pocket-sized principality, where over 30% of the residents were millionaires, local fans were too few—and frankly, too busy—to stage any protests against him. Had he been managing elsewhere in Europe, especially in a working-class football community, the local blue-collar fans would likely have launched large-scale protests calling for his dismissal after that disastrous defeat.
Even though the disruptive players had been removed, the real work for Situ Yunbing was just beginning. He had to build a completely new tactical system from the ground up.
In his words to the coaching staff and players: "We need to re-evaluate the team and find a tactical approach that suits us."
Why the sudden change? The answer was simple: the squad was now eight players lighter—nearly half of the team's usual starting eleven.
If he continued with the same tactics as before, it would only highlight the problems that had surfaced in the previous match. A reset was inevitable.
From Monday afternoon, Situ Yunbing, along with his coaching team, began studying potential formations for the new main lineup.
There were a few positions that wouldn't change. The goalkeeper spot, for instance, was already settled. The veteran Flavio Roma, now 34 years old, had plans to retire at the end of the season. He was mostly observing the internal conflict within the squad and wasn't looking to make any waves in the latter stages of his career. Ruffier, Monaco's emerging star between the posts, remained the clear first choice.
As for the defense, Simic, the 33-year-old Croatian right-back, had chosen to remain neutral during Müller's revolt. At his age, engaging in locker room conflicts was pointless. His experience would still be useful, but his position wasn't guaranteed.
Then there was the 29-year-old François Modesto, a stalwart in the Monaco backline for the past four years. With the captain's armband, Modesto had stayed clear of the rebellion, particularly irritated that Müller, a fellow defender, had tried to undermine him. His leadership and solid performances made him an unshakable presence in central defense.
However, with Müller now relegated to the reserves, Modesto needed a new partner in defense.
Situ Yunbing's choice was between two young talents: 19-year-old Congolese defender Cédric Mongongu and 18-year-old Cameroonian center-back Nicolas N'Koulou. Both players would compete for the spot, and with occasional rotations, both would get their fair share of opportunities.
Mongongu, standing at nearly 190 cm, had an obvious advantage in aerial duels and his positional sense was strong. However, his lack of agility and slow pace were clear weaknesses. In pairing him with Modesto, the more experienced defender would have to offer additional protection, especially in transitions.
On the other hand, N'Koulou, though shorter at 180 cm, was faster and more flexible. He had greater strength than Mongongu but was weaker in aerial challenges. His speed made him an excellent marker, particularly against quick forwards, and he was versatile enough to be deployed as a defensive midfielder. With his stamina, strength, and quickness, the Cameroonian could also be entrusted with covering wide areas of the pitch and making interceptions.
Then there was 21-year-old Vincent Muratori, Monaco's homegrown left-back. Muratori had risen through the ranks and had spent a year with the first team, earning his place on merit. He had remained loyal to the club and kept his distance from the rebellion. Though not particularly flashy, Muratori's work rate was second to none. In the recent defeat, his defensive zone wasn't breached, and his stamina ensured that he was constantly shuttling up and down the left flank.
With Müller out of the picture, Mongongu would likely step in as Modesto's partner, while N'Koulou would provide cover as a substitute, vying for his place in the team. The 33-year-old Simic had Adriano, a Brazilian right-back, as his understudy. Given Simic's age, Adriano's role as a rotational option would become more prominent as the season progressed.
Situ Yunbing had learned a painful lesson in the second half of the last game, where he failed to make tactical adjustments or substitutions in time. Now, he constantly reminded himself to stay alert to the flow of the game, ensuring he was ready to react swiftly when needed.
In the midfield, Haruna had betrayed Situ Yunbing's trust by joining the rebellion. In contrast, Diego Pérez and Camel Meriem had remained neutral and showed that they could be counted on. Meriem's performance in the last game had been solid but unspectacular. There was a lack of attacking threat from him, which Situ Yunbing was eager to address by altering his role and positioning.
Pérez, known for his defensive discipline, would continue to anchor the midfield. However, in Situ Yunbing's revised tactical system, Pérez would take up a deeper role, operating as a holding midfielder to shield the defense.
As for the central midfield partner alongside Pérez, Situ Yunbing was torn between three options: the 25-year-old Ivorian Jean-Jacques Gosso, 24-year-old Croatian Jerko Leko, and 21-year-old French midfielder Thomas Mangani.
Mangani was a balanced player with no major weaknesses, though he didn't particularly excel in any area either. His main advantage was his superior physical fitness. Leko, on the other hand, was slightly more well-rounded in his abilities but lacked pace, which could be a liability. Gosso was perhaps the weakest of the three in terms of technical ability, but he made up for it with his bravery in defense and his relatively quick speed.
With all three players bringing different strengths and weaknesses, Situ Yunbing found it challenging to decide who should be the first choice for the midfield partnership with Pérez.
As Petit shared his thoughts, Situ Yunbing had an epiphany.
"Every match presents different challenges. Why are we sticking to a fixed lineup? We can adapt our starting eleven based on the characteristics of our opponents."
It was a breakthrough moment for him. While some positions required consistent starters to ensure stability, not every position needed to remain fixed. Flexibility could be an asset.
With this realization, Situ Yunbing decided to move away from the traditional 4-3-3 formation. Instead, he opted for a more balanced 4-5-1, pulling the wingers back into full-back roles.
The change was driven largely by necessity. Of the eight players sent to the reserve team, five were forwards, including three who had started in the previous match. This left Situ Yunbing with limited options upfront and forced him to reassess both his attacking and defensive tactics.
Now, he needed to identify a new focal point for the team's attack—a central forward—and rebuild the wings around that decision.
Among the players left in the squad, the only viable center-forward options were 19-year-old French striker Frédéric Nimani and 21-year-old Togolese forward Serge Gakpé.
Nimani, at 191 cm tall and physically strong, was the natural choice to lead the line. His height and strength made him a target man, but what impressed Situ Yunbing the most was his speed and, surprisingly, his passing ability. After closely observing Nimani, he realized that the young striker had the best passing range among Monaco's younger players, an asset that could bring others into play effectively.
With Nimani set to turn 20 in a few weeks, he was positioned as the team's new center-forward.
The next step was to choose the wingers who would flank him. The decision on the left wing was straightforward. Yohan Mollo, at 19 years old, possessed explosive pace and impressive technical ability. He was arguably the most talented player in the squad when it came to dribbling and ball control. However, his glaring weakness was his finishing. His poor shooting ability had kept him from starting the last game, but in a more withdrawn role as a winger, he would be a better fit than Distel Zola, who had struggled.
The right-wing position, however, was more complicated. Situ Yunbing had to choose between three players: 21-year-old Colombian forward Juan Pablo Pino, Gakpé, and 26-year-old Argentine full-back Alejandro Alonso.
Each had their strengths, but also significant weaknesses. Alonso, like Mollo, was unreliable in front of goal, often wasting scoring opportunities. Pino had great pace but lacked defensive awareness, a critical component for Situ Yunbing's tactical requirements. Meanwhile, Gakpé, while more defensively aware, didn't have the stamina or physicality of the other two.
Situ Yunbing quickly realized that the right-wing position would need to remain flexible. There wouldn't be a fixed starter; he would rotate between these players based on the opposition and the demands of each match.
The silver lining was that both Pino and Gakpé were versatile enough to play in multiple positions across the front line. This gave Situ Yunbing some tactical fluidity, allowing him to adapt his attacking options as needed.
By the end of the afternoon, Situ Yunbing had successfully laid out the framework for his new team. With a revised system and a restructured squad, it was now time to drill these tactics into the players and fine-tune their roles on the pitch.
The real test, however, would come when the team faced Marseille.
...
...
Müller and the others were naturally furious about being demoted to the reserve team by Situ Yunbing. They sought out De Bontin, hoping the club president would intervene and overturn the decision. They vehemently criticized Situ Yunbing, portraying him as reckless and unfit for the job. However, by the afternoon, it became clear that De Bontin had no intention of interfering with the coach's decisions—at least, not for the time being.
Realizing they wouldn't get the support they had hoped for, the group of eight players decided to take their complaints to the media. After the afternoon training session, they met with reporters outside the stadium, airing their grievances in detail and painting a grim picture of Situ Yunbing's leadership.
It wasn't long before the media picked up the story, highlighting the apparent rift between Situ Yunbing and several players. Reports began circulating, portraying Monaco as a club in turmoil, with a rookie coach at the center of it all.
Meanwhile, inside the club, Situ Yunbing was entirely focused on his work. While the other coaches had already gone home, he and Alonzo remained in his office, reviewing footage of Monaco's last five matches. They meticulously studied the players' actual performances, analyzing their abilities, tendencies, and habits during games.
The media storm outside was of no concern to him. He simply didn't have the luxury of time to waste on it.
At around two o'clock in the morning, both Situ Yunbing and Alonzo, exhausted from their work, fell asleep in the office—Situ on the couch and Alonzo on the floor.
The next day, as the media continued to report on Monaco's internal strife, Situ Yunbing once again ignored the noise. His focus was entirely on the training ground, where he was drilling his tactical approach into the players.
"Midfield defense! Move faster! Win the ball back quickly—decisively!" he shouted, his voice growing hoarse. "Wingers, after you win the ball, push forward immediately! Drive it up the pitch!"
He was relentless. "Don't hesitate during positional attacks! Even if you fail, move quickly! Faster, faster! Be aggressive, be tough!"
Situ Yunbing's intensity on the training ground was evident to everyone. His passion and energy were contagious, and even the other coaches found themselves inspired by his unyielding work ethic. It was clear to them that Situ Yunbing was not the same man he had been just a week ago.
The tactical system he was implementing now was simple yet focused. In positional attacks, he emphasized quick, direct play—no over-elaborate passing, no excessive possession. Most of the team's energy was to be concentrated on defense, even when pushing forward.
His new system placed 80% of the focus on defensive structure. The positioning of the midfielders during attacks was guided by defensive principles, ensuring the team remained prepared to win the ball back.
When the opposition attacked, the forwards and midfielders would immediately press high up the pitch, forcing the opponent to make hurried decisions. Nimani, Meriem, and one of the full-backs would lead the pressing in the front third, aiming to disrupt the opponent's build-up before they could settle. If the first line of pressure didn't work, the midfielders were the second wave, pressing quickly and decisively to break up the play.
The objective was simple: end the opposition's attack outside of Monaco's defensive danger zone. Once the ball was won, the counter-attack had to be swift. The full-backs would drive forward, exploiting space and creating depth, while the center-forward linked up with the midfielders. If the wide midfielders had the chance to join the attack, they would—but if not, they would focus on holding their positions and supporting centrally.
Although Situ Yunbing had abandoned the possession-based tactics he had initially wanted to implement, some elements of his previous approach remained. The players' improved positioning and spatial awareness from last week's drills were still valuable and could be applied in this new, more pragmatic system.
The atmosphere on the training ground had drastically improved since Monday. Every player approached the sessions with full seriousness, and some had even begun asking Situ Yunbing questions about his tactics—eager to understand his vision and play a role in it.
This enthusiasm from the players was the best possible sign for Situ Yunbing. The squad was responding positively to his leadership, despite the looming challenges.
Even De Bontin, who occasionally watched the training sessions from a distance, noticed the subtle yet significant changes. The players were more engaged, more active, and the coaching staff more focused. The entire team seemed determined, despite knowing that a formidable challenge awaited them in the upcoming match against Marseille.
Situ Yunbing barely went home during the week, only stopping by occasionally to change his clothes. Most of his time was spent at the club, overseeing training sessions during the day and working late into the night with Alonzo, studying upcoming opponents and refining their tactical approach.
Before the weekend game, Marseille's head coach, Eric Gerets, attended the pre-match press conference. When a reporter asked how he viewed his opponent, Monaco, Gerets couldn't help but smirk.
"This must be a joke, right?" he replied, prompting laughter from the gathered press.
After the chuckles subsided, Gerets shook his head and said, "I honestly don't know what Monaco is doing. Modern football is brutal, yet they're treating running the club like a trivial matter."
He paused before adding, "I've never heard of their Chinese coach before, and after watching their last match, I'm not surprised by the chaos at Monaco. Their players are lost on the pitch, lacking any fight or direction. Of course, the responsibility for that lies with the head coach, and I'm shocked he's still in charge."
Gerets, a former Belgian international who had been a key figure in his nation's footballing success, had extensive coaching experience across Europe. Having managed in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and Turkey, he was seen as a respected voice. No one questioned his assessment of the situation at Monaco.
With the media now circling around Monaco's crisis, they were eager to hear from Situ Yunbing before the game. However, the club announced that assistant coach Petit would be attending the pre-match press conference instead, citing that Situ Yunbing was feeling unwell. Petit gave little away, repeatedly stating, like a rehearsed script, that the team was focused on giving their best in the weekend match.
Situ Yunbing had become a scapegoat in the French football community, with pundits and fans alike taking shots at him. The press conference absence was just another reason for critics to pounce, as if anyone in French football wouldn't mind taking their turn beating him down.
But Situ Yunbing had bigger concerns than media perception. By skipping the press conference, he avoided unnecessary distractions and ensured no additional pressure was placed on his players ahead of their critical match against Marseille.
On September 21st, for the sixth round of Ligue 1, Monaco traveled to face Marseille at the iconic Stade Vélodrome.
Bad news had emerged from Monaco before the game. Angry at the club's refusal to sack Situ Yunbing, some of Monaco's fans had organized a boycott. They decided not to attend the away match, leaving the team without support in Marseille. While it was rare for many Monaco fans to travel for away games anyway, this boycott ensured the visitors' stand would be virtually empty.
For a club already struggling with finances, this protest had deeper implications. Monaco's revenue on match days, even with their average attendance, still brought in nearly one million euros in ticket sales and stadium consumption. If fans continued to stay away, the financial strain would only worsen.
In the locker room before the game, Situ Yunbing sat quietly, aware that his time was running out. External criticism was one thing, but the fans' resistance was a direct threat to the club's lifeblood. He knew that only a quick turnaround in results could ease the tension and win back the supporters.
As the players made their final preparations, Situ Yunbing stood up and walked toward an empty locker. He faced the squad and began to speak.
"I'm sure you're all aware that we may not have any fans cheering for us today," he began. "Our record this season hasn't earned their applause. In fact, the team's performance over the past three years has let them down."
He paused, letting his words sink in before continuing. "We've hit rock bottom, haven't we? But as the saying goes, things must turn around when they reach their lowest point. Over the past week, I've seen the hard work you've put in. I've seen your dedication. I hope to see that effort rewarded today, just as much as you do."
Situ Yunbing's voice grew stronger as he continued. "We need to win this game—for ourselves, for each other, and to earn back the support of the fans! Look at each other. We are young. We have incredible potential, and we have a future to fight for!"
He scanned the room, meeting each player's eyes. "You've felt it this week. The team is calm, free of distractions, and we've all gotten along better. Do you know what that means? It means we're becoming united!"
He took a step forward. "Strong opponents don't scare me. What scares me is a team that doesn't work together. But we are changing. We're working together now. We're becoming a team. I have nothing else but this job, but I'm fighting for respect and honor."
His voice filled the room. "You should fight for your glory! There's no better opponent than Marseille to test what we've trained for. There's nothing more thrilling in France than beating Marseille!"
He took a final deep breath. "Before we walk out there, ask yourselves: are you ready to win something today?"
The players exchanged glances, their resolve clear. One by one, they nodded with determination.
Monaco might not have reached perfect unity yet, but in the past week, the young squad had seen the glimmer of hope. With a streamlined team and the coaching staff's hard work, they felt a renewed sense of purpose. Even if the outside world saw chaos, they could feel the change happening from within.
As the players and coaches left the locker room, Alonzo noticed that Situ Yunbing had stayed behind, sitting alone. He glanced back, concerned, but Situ Yunbing motioned for him to go on. "You go ahead. I'll join you in a moment."
Alonzo left, feeling a mix of excitement and anxiety.
Once alone, Situ Yunbing looked around the visiting locker room. It wasn't as luxurious as Marseille's home locker room, but to him, it represented one of football's most sacred spaces. This was the heart of the game—the place where everything was prepared and where battles began.
He reached into his bag and pulled out a tablet. Navigating through the player management interface, he selected Meriem's avatar and clicked the "+" icon. He then activated Mamadou Niang's card, confirming its use for the match.
Placing the tablet back in his bag, Situ Yunbing stood, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again, his expression had hardened—his eyes sharp and focused, his demeanor exuding determination and strength. This match was everything.
If he lost today, it wouldn't just cost him his job—it would cost him his life. But none of that mattered now. Situ Yunbing was prepared to leave everything on the pitch, ready to fight with every ounce of strength to stay alive.
He walked out of the locker room, ready for battle.
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