Watching Alex
If the story receives 30 power stones in the next 48 hours, I will share one additional chapter.
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Kay walked over to Anouar, who stood with his head lowered in defeat. Placing a hand on Anouar's shoulder, Kay spoke with a calm and reassuring tone.
"This match wasn't about winning or losing, it was about learning the important role of the manager and building your confidence in me."
He continued, "I wanted to show you that we can achieve great things when we work together and trust each other. Today, you saw the potential in our team, not just in the principal players, but in everyone. We are all members of the same team, and our success depends on our unity and effort."
Anouar looked up, a mixture of respect and understanding in his eyes. He nodded slowly, acknowledging the lesson learned.
Kay's words resonated with the entire team. They realized that their strength lay not just in individual talent but in their collective effort and belief in their manager's vision, and that was clear in the challenge match.
The rest of the team gathered around, and Kay addressed them all.
"We have a lot of work ahead of us, but if we continue to support each other and give our best, we can achieve our goals. Remember, every one of you has a role to play, and together, we are stronger."
The players are now united by their shared experience and newfound respect for Kay. Kay felt satisfied.
He had not only won a match but had also earned the trust and confidence of his team.
As Kay was talking to Anouar, he noticed Mr. Collins, the director, approaching from a distance.
To Kay's surprise, Mr. Collins was clapping as he walked towards them. Kay, confused stood still, unsure why the director was applauding.
When Mr. Collins reached them, he said, "Kay, I'm proud of you. You resolved this issue very brilliantly."
Kay still looked puzzled, and Coach Daniels intervened, explaining, "I informed the director about this issue yesterday, but he told me to let you handle it to see your capabilities."
Mr. Collins continued, "And you handled it exceptionally well. My respect for you has grown even more after this incident."
Anouar, who had been lowering his head, blushing with embarrassment, was visibly uncomfortable about his earlier confrontation with Kay.
Seeing Anouar's discomfort, Mr. Collins patted him on the head and said, "You shouldn't be ashamed of what you did, Anouar. It's good for players to have a critical mindset. It shows you care about the team and wants what's best. What matters is that we learn from these moments and grow stronger together."
Anouar lifted his head slightly, meeting Mr. Collins's eyes, and nodded. He understood the importance of the lesson and felt a bit more at ease with the situation.
Mr. Collins turned back to Kay, saying, "Keep up the good work. I have high hopes for you and this team." With that, he gave a final encouraging nod and walked away.
Kay continued today's session with training on the basics, understanding their importance even for professional players from the lecture given by Guardiola.
He emphasized drills focusing on fundamental skills like passing, dribbling, and positioning.
The players worked hard, showing their dedication to improving their core abilities.
Kay was confident that this focus on basics would benefit the under-16 players significantly.
The next two days were off as it was the weekend.
Kay used this time to relax and recharge. On Sunday, Kay and his parents went to watch a match where Kay's friend Alex was playing.
Kay and his parents arrived late, so the match had already begun.
The stadium buzzed with excitement as fans gathered to support their teams.
This match was particularly important, as Alex's team was playing in the cup, and a win would secure their place in the quarter-finals.
Kay and his parents found seats with a good view of the field. The atmosphere was tense, with both teams showing their determination to win.
When Alex and Kay played together in their youth, Kay was an offensive midfielder, often setting up plays for Alex, who was a striker.
From what Kay observed during this match, Alex still played as a striker, leading the line for his current team.
As the game progressed, it became evident that Alex's team was under heavy pressure.
The opposing team, playing in the EFL League 1 division, attacked relentlessly, dominating possession and forcing Alex's team to defend deep.
Each time the ball reached the defenders of the opposing team, Alex was quick to press them, trying to force an error or win the ball back for a counterattack.
Despite his best efforts, Alex was often alone in this endeavor, with the rest of his team focused on maintaining their defensive shape.
It was a challenging situation, reflecting the difference in class between the two teams.
The EFL League 2 side, Alex's team, was clearly outmatched, and the disparity in quality was evident in every aspect of the game.
This was Alex's first season with this team, after his move from the youth team where he had played alongside Kay.
It was clear that he had grown as a player, shouldering the responsibility of leading the attack even in such difficult circumstances.
The game continued without any goals, with the opposing team controlling the majority of the play.
Alex's team managed only a few counterattacks, with Alex at the heart of each one, trying to create opportunities from the limited chances they had.
Kay watched the match closely, noting that Alex was still the hard-working player he had always known, he never stopped in the match.
As the second half unfolded, Kay's eyes were fixed on his friend, admiring his tenacity despite the difficult situation his team was in.
The match reached a pivotal moment when the defense line of the opposing team, confident in their control of the game, pushed up to near the midfield.
The ball was passed to one of their defenders, and as usual, Alex began pressing immediately.
The defender feinted as though he was going to pass to the right before suddenly switching to the left to make his pass. But Alex anticipated the move perfectly.
With a quick stretch of his leg, Alex intercepted the ball, his timing impeccable.
The stadium seemed to hold its breath as Alex, now with the ball at his feet, quickly got back up and surveyed the field.
He saw two defenders charging toward him to regain possession. Alex, Calm under pressure made a series of quick, subtle feints to maintain control of the ball, evading their attempts to cut the ball.
In a split second, he decided his next move, he looked up and saw a winger sprinting down the right flank, unmarked and with plenty of space.
Alex made a precise, long pass to the right, sending the ball ahead of the winger in stride.
The winger, seizing the opportunity, raced toward the penalty area, the defenders trailing behind.
With the goalkeeper rushing out to close down the angle, the winger showed composure, dribbling past him with a deft touch before slotting the ball into the empty net.
The stadium erupted with cheers as the first goal of the match was scored.
All of Alex's teammates rushed to the winger to celebrate, the joy of breaking the deadlock evident in their reactions.
But as Kay watched, he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of pride in his friend.
He knew that this goal was as much Alex's as it was the winger's. Alex was the shadow hero, the one who had sparked the play with his intelligent pressing and perfectly timed pass.
His hard work, foresight, and unyielding effort had created this moment of brilliance, and though he didn't score, it was his contribution that had made it all possible.
The celebrations on the field gradually subsided as the players returned to their positions, and the match resumed.
The play pattern remained the same, with Alex's team holding a resolute defensive line while their opponents relentlessly pressed forward, desperate to find an equalizer.
See you in the next chapter ...
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