The Coaching System

August 6 – The Flight Home

The flight back from Vienna was quiet, but not in defeat—more like a simmering frustration. Not the kind that broke teams, but the kind that sharpened them.

Jake Wilson sat near the front, arms folded, staring out the window though there was nothing to see but darkness. The match replayed in his mind in sharp fragments—Obi's miss, Richter's shot off the bar, Fletcher's desperate lunge before Rapid's counter. It had been so close.

Behind him, the players were lost in their own thoughts. Some had headphones on, drowning in music. Others sat in silence, gazing at nothing, processing the loss. Costa and Richter exchanged quiet words about movement and pressing. Obi scrolled through his phone, jaw tight. He was still thinking about that chance.

Jake exhaled through his nose. They had deserved more.

Yet, football wasn't about what was deserved. It was about what was taken.

The wheels touched down in Leeds just after midnight. The players filed off the plane, boarding the bus for the final stretch home. The night was cool, the city lights flickering past the windows. Valley Parade was waiting for them. But before that—work.

August 7 – Training Resumes

The sun had barely risen when the players arrived at the training ground. The air was still crisp, the grass slightly damp from the morning dew. Jake stood on the sideline, hands in his pockets, watching them warm up.

He needed to shift their focus—immediately. Rapid Wien was still in their heads, but there was a league match first. That had to come before the second leg.

"Short, sharp touches," Jake called as Ibáñez, Vélez, and Silva moved through a passing drill.

It wasn't about fitness. It was about mentality. Coventry City was next, and a win there would set the tone.

The starters from Vienna had a lighter session. Recovery, film work, tactical adjustments. The rest of the squad trained at full intensity.

Costa and Richter drilled finishing patterns—one-touch strikes, volleys, instinctive efforts inside the box. Obi watched from the side, arms crossed, eyes locked on them. Jake made a note to speak with him later.

Fletcher and Barnes worked defensive drills, focusing on tracking runners. Kang Min Jae, sharp and aggressive, flew into a challenge during a small-sided game, winning the ball cleanly.

Roney was relentless on the left, driving at his marker again and again.

"More of that," Jake called. "That's what we need next week."

By the end of the session, sweat dripped from shirts, but the mood had sharpened. This team wasn't beaten. They were preparing for what came next.

August 8 – Recovery & Rest Day

No training. Jake wanted them fresh.

Some players showed up anyway. Obi, of course, was one of them.

Jake found him on the training pitch, running finishing drills on his own. Ball after ball struck at goal. Some flew in. Some didn't. But he kept going.

"Still thinking about Vienna?" Jake asked, leaning against the goalpost.

Obi exhaled, shaking his head. "Should've scored."

Jake didn't argue. Instead, he shrugged. "It happens. You'll get another one."

Obi wiped his forehead. "Not gonna miss next time."

Jake smirked. "Good. Now go home."

Obi hesitated, then finally grabbed his water bottle. "Yeah. Alright."

Jake watched him walk off. He'd be ready when it mattered.

August 9 – Matchday vs Coventry City

Coventry City vs. Bradford City

Rotation was necessary. Fresh legs for the league, key players rested for Rapid Wien.

Jake stood in the away dressing room, eyes scanning his squad. "This isn't just about three points," he said. "It's about momentum. About setting the tone before Thursday. Go out there and show them what we're about."

Starting XI:

GK – Mathew Cox

RB – James Richards

CB – Nathan Barnes

CB – Kang Min Jae

LB – Reece Holloway

RW – Walsh

CM – Lowe

CM – Chapman

LW – Mensah

ST – Rin Itoshi

ST – Chido Obi

Kickoff.

12' –

Lowe won back possession in midfield, intercepting a careless pass. He quickly fed Obi, who had dropped deep to receive. Obi took one look, then split the Coventry backline with a perfectly weighted through ball.

Rin was already moving. His first touch took him into the box. His second—a low, composed finish past the keeper's outstretched hand.

The net rippled. Rin turned away, pumping his fist. The traveling Bradford fans erupted.

1-0. The perfect start.

27' –

Bradford didn't let up. Chapman took control in midfield, dictating the tempo with crisp, precise passes. Every time Coventry tried to build, Barnes and Kang Min Jae shut the door.

Mensah was a nightmare on the left flank. The young winger twisted and turned, dragging his full-back all over the place. He whipped in a teasing cross in the 27th minute, forcing Coventry's keeper into an awkward punch under pressure. The rebound fell to Lowe, who struck it first time—just wide.

42' –

Coventry had barely put together an attack when Bradford struck again. Chapman, scanning the pitch, switched the play beautifully to Mensah. The winger took a sharp touch inside and laid it off to Obi at the edge of the box.

This time, there was no hesitation.

One touch to set, one to strike.

His right-footed shot curled past the keeper, burying into the bottom corner.

2-0. A moment of confidence. A moment of redemption.

Obi turned, arms wide, roaring in celebration. His teammates swarmed him, patting his back. He had needed that. And Jake knew it.

Halftime. Bradford in complete control.

Second Half –

Bradford returned for the second half with a commanding 2-0 lead, but Jake wasn't satisfied. He knew football had a way of punishing teams that got comfortable.

The message at halftime had been clear: Stay aggressive. Kill the game.

Coventry tried to respond, pushing higher up the pitch, but they struggled to break through. Kang Min Jae and Barnes were an impenetrable wall at the back, stepping in at the right moments, snuffing out any hint of an attack.

On the flanks, Walsh and Mensah continued to stretch the field, giving Coventry's defense no chance to rest.

60' – Triple Substitution

Jake watched from the touchline, arms folded. The energy levels were dipping, and with the second leg against Rapid Wien looming, he made his move.

🔄 Off: James Richard, Nathan Barnes, Lowe

🔄 On: Rojas, Bianchi, Ibáñez

The changes brought fresh legs and new energy. Rojas slotted in at right-back, providing an extra layer of solidity. Bianchi's presence in central defense kept things calm at the back. Ibáñez, meanwhile, added more urgency in midfield—the kind of player who could turn defense into attack in a heartbeat.

Coventry still had no answers.

67' – Coventry's Half-Chance

For the first time, Coventry found a bit of space. A long diagonal ball caught Bradford's backline slightly out of shape, and their winger managed to dart behind Rojas. He drilled a low cross into the box—dangerous.

Their striker stretched, meeting it with a first-time shot.

But Mathew Cox reacted brilliantly, diving low to his left to push it away.

Jake clapped from the sideline. That was as close as Coventry had come. They wouldn't get closer.

73' – Chapman's Rocket (0-3)

Bradford weren't done.

Ibáñez, fresh and full of energy, intercepted a loose pass in midfield and immediately drove forward. Coventry's midfield backed off, wary of committing. That was their mistake.

Ibáñez spotted Chapman in space and rolled it into his path.

One touch.

One glance up.

One swing of his right foot.

The ball exploded off his boot, rocketing toward the top corner. The Coventry keeper barely reacted.

Net. Rippling. Silence.

For a split second, the stadium froze.

Then—chaos.

Chapman turned away, arms outstretched, a small smirk creeping onto his face. His teammates rushed to him, patting his head, shoving his shoulders. Even Jake allowed himself a small nod of approval.

Game over. 3-0.

Final 15 Minutes – Seeing It Out

Bradford didn't need to chase more goals. They managed the game expertly, slowing the tempo, keeping possession, frustrating Coventry. Ibáñez and Chapman dictated the midfield, passing Coventry into submission. Rojas and Holloway locked down the flanks.

Coventry knew they were beaten.

Jake made one last change in the 85th minute, bringing off Mensah for Rasmussen to ensure fresh legs on the left side.

The final whistle was a formality.

Full-Time – Statement Made

Bradford had been ruthless. Dominant. Professional.

There was no wild celebration—this wasn't a cup final. It was a job well done, another three points. The players shook hands, exchanged a few smiles, and walked off with heads high.

Jake met them at the tunnel, nodding.

"Well done."

The players knew what came next.

Rest. Recovery.

Then—Rapid Wien.

The real battle awaited.

Fan Café – Post-Match Buzz

The Bradford fan forums were alive with discussion after the dominant 3-0 win over Coventry. It wasn't just the victory—it was the statement it sent.

@BantamsLoyal – "That's exactly what we needed before Thursday. Controlled, clinical, no messing about. This squad is serious."

@ChapmanFC – "Chapman's goal? My word. That's what you call a rocket. Keeper didn't even move."

@Obi9Fan – "Obi and Rin linking up nicely. Obi needed that goal after last week, and you could see the confidence come back."

@SafeHandsCox – "Cox with the save at 2-0. Don't forget that. If Coventry score there, it's a different game. But he steps up."

@JakeWilsonTactician – "The rotation worked too. Jake's smart. Kept key players fresh for Rapid Wien."

But while fans were happy with the win, all eyes were already on Thursday.

Looking Ahead – Valley Parade Awaits

@CityTillIDie – "The job was done tonight, but Thursday is the big one. Rapid Wien don't know what's waiting for them."

@BradfordEuropeDream – "2-1 down, but we saw the gaps in their defense. At home, with our fans behind us? We turn this around."

@FletchersTackle – "They celebrated like they'd already won the tie. Big mistake."

@ValleyParadeFaithful – "I need Valley Parade rocking. Let them feel the noise. Let them feel the pressure."

@RapidWho – "Rapid Wien? You're in for a long night."

The belief was there. The fight was there.

Bradford City had made their statement in the league.

Now, it was time to make one in Europe.