When the players finished warming up, Richard stepped down onto the pitch and stood beside O'Neill, asking, "4-4-2? The same as Wycombe?"
O'Neill shook his head. "I prefer a 4-4-2, but I'm looking to refine it to suit this squad. Solid defensive organization, a hardworking midfield, and two forwards who can press high and capitalize on chances—that's what I'm aiming for."
"I want the wingers to move inside and act as attacking midfielders when we're in possession," he continued. "This turns it into a 4-2-2-2 in attack, which creates space for Cafu and Roberto Carlos to push forward and create chances from the flanks." He explained his tactics with a clear focus on how the team would operate dynamically.
On the pitch, Mike Phelan was initially relaxed. After all, he was the most senior player here and the most experienced in Europe, so he felt confident going into the scrimmage.
'Just to make it into the first team,' he thought.
