Training Clash

Training at Derby County had been brutal today, and David had borne the brunt of it. He had been fouled, dragged, and even pulled down more times than he could count, prompting Wayne Rooney to shout and threaten to stop the session twice already.

David sat on the bench, breathing heavily. He had just been fouled again not long ago, but as always, he got right back up. He was a firm believer that football should be a little rough—an outlook he had inherited from his dad, who often complained that fouls in modern football were too soft or unnecessary. That belief had become a part of David's game on the pitch.

Sure, he knew his teammates had been a little or rather a lot more than rough with him today, but he didn't care. Whenever he stepped onto the pitch—whether it was a competitive match, a practice game, or even a casual five-a-side—David was determined to give it his absolute best.