By the end of the warm-up laps and ball drills, the players were already drenched in sweat.
It wasn't because their fitness was poor—but because Juninho D'Alessandro's demands during ball work were intense. Every drill required full focus: move your feet, pass accurately, anticipate quickly. There were no shortcuts.
"Now let's run some simple small-sided games," Juninho announced. "Split yourselves into four teams of six. Free combination. Each group wears a different color."
He tossed them a bag of colored bibs and stood back as they sorted themselves out.
Juninho felt slightly uneasy. The coaching setup was still lacking. Originally, Morecambe had three coaches—a head coach, a fitness coach, and a goalkeeping coach.
But after sacking the former head coach, the other two had followed him out the door. Now Juninho was on his own.
"Hopefully Ryan finds a proper assistant soon," Juninho muttered under his breath, watching the players pull on their bibs.
He'd asked Ryan to lure an experienced assistant with a generous offer, someone who could fully implement his training regime. But until then, Juninho had no choice but to lead every session himself.
Soon, the players were grouped up. Though some still harbored doubts about their new manager, they weren't as openly resistant as before. Most were simply observing—waiting to see if this young coach had the ability to back up his confidence.
"See the two marked zones?" Juninho pointed to two mini-pitches he had set up on the training ground. "We'll use both for press training. Two teams per pitch—one defending, one pressing."
The players nodded.
"When I send the ball to the defending side, I want the pressing team to rush in and close down space fast. Work together. Communicate. Don't leave open channels!"
Without waiting, Juninho pinged a long ball toward the defenders on one pitch—boom!—and immediately fired a second ball toward the other.
"PRESS!"
At his sharp command, both pressing teams exploded into action, racing toward their opponents to apply pressure.
But the press was chaotic.
Players charged in without coordination. The defending teams broke out easily through wide-open passing lanes. Pressers failed to close down space properly, leaving massive gaps behind them.
It quickly became clear: they didn't know how to press as a unit.
Juninho blew his whistle sharply and called them over.
"Do you know why you're not winning the ball back?" he asked.
The players shook their heads, eyes fixed on him.
"Because you're playing like a bunch of solo runners!" Juninho snapped. "You're six-a-side, but no one's thinking about shape. No one's covering space. Everyone's chasing shadows one-on-one!"
"Listen carefully. Football is about controlling space. When you press, you need to cut off options, not just chase the ball! Press in waves, as a unit, close off angles—then go in!"
His voice was sharp, but the message hit home. The smarter players' eyes lit up with understanding. This wasn't just old-school yelling—this was tactical awareness.
Juninho saw the change in their expressions. They were starting to get it.
"Back into position. Run it again!"
The players returned to the pitch, far more serious than before.
Boom! Boom! Two more balls were delivered.
This time, the pressing teams took shape before closing down—three in front, three just behind—cutting off escape routes, then collapsing space together.
The defenders found themselves boxed in with no passing options.
"YES!" Juninho called out from the center circle. "Now we're talking! Keep that intensity. Work smart, not just hard!"
The players nodded, now fully engaged. They weren't just complying—they were learning.
Juninho had earned their respect.
He continued rotating the teams, alternating attack and defense, pushing the tempo higher and higher. By the end of the session, every player was exhausted—but their understanding of pressing had improved dramatically.
Juninho also got a clearer sense of their strengths.
Defensively, they were solid. With better fitness, their physicality and grit could easily meet the demands of a high-pressing system.
Offensively, however, they were more limited. Forget Barcelona's tiki-taka—it was never going to happen. But short, sharp passes and quick combinations in tight spaces? That was achievable. Something like Pep Guardiola's early Manchester City—pragmatic, high-tempo football.
And in England's lower divisions? That style could dominate.
"Give me time," Juninho thought as he walked home that evening. "We'll make Morecambe a nightmare for every team in the Conference."
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In the following days, training continued relentlessly.
Juninho pushed the players hard—but smart. He made tactical lessons digestible, focused on improving football IQ, and adjusted drills based on what they could handle.
Meanwhile, he doubled efforts to find coaching staff.
A strong assistant was vital—someone to oversee conditioning, monitor player fitness, advise on tactics, even manage rehab and nutrition. Many elite managers didn't run every drill—they planned the structure and let trusted assistants execute.
But good assistants were hard to find. Despite Ryan's efforts, no ideal candidates had surfaced. So Juninho focused on what he could control.
And day by day, the team responded.
They executed his ideas more fluidly. Pressing improved. Transitions sharpened. Their mentality shifted—from skeptical to committed.
And then, as the days ticked down, a date loomed on the calendar.
June 15th.
Morecambe vs. Feld FC.
The season opener.
Juninho's first official match as Morecambe's coach was just two days away.
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