CH 10

From Cheers to Boos—Two Different Worlds

Feeling the cheers and roars of tens of thousands of fans.

And feeling the boos and jeers of tens of thousands of fans.

These were two completely different sensations—one felt like heaven, the other like hell.

However, that wasn't what confused Matteo Conti.

In fact, the home fans' betrayal and their relentless booing only ignited a strong rebellious fire within him.

A Rebellious Spirit Awakens

For most of his life, Matteo had been seen as a "good boy"—by his parents, his teachers, even his friends.

But the reality?

Matteo knew he wasn't as obedient as everyone thought.

There were times when he wanted to go against his parents, teachers, and friends.

Because, deep down, he disagreed with many of their ideas.

But in the end, he always chose patience, silence, and obedience.

Why?

Because he had no room for rebellion.

Born in the countryside of San Marino, he was the eldest of four children.

If he wanted to succeed—if he wanted to set an example for his younger siblings—he had to suppress his true personality and focus on studying.

For a kid from a small town, with no resources and no connections, studying was his only ticket to changing his fate.

And he did it.

In a country where opportunities were scarce, he had managed to stand out.

But then—

The system came into his life and changed everything, shifting his path from academics to professional football.

Yet, the mentality he built from his academic success had already reshaped him.

And until now, he had never truly let go of his restraint.

But the fans' betrayal and their boos suddenly unlocked something inside him.

Why should I play the way they want me to?

I'll play the way I want.

It didn't matter if this mentality was reckless or immature.

At least now, Matteo felt no fear, no pressure—only determination.

The boos didn't break him.

They fueled him.

Doubts About Luck

Matteo's frustration wasn't just about the fans or his own emotional awakening.

It was about his luck—or rather, his lack of it.

He had already been on the pitch for nearly ten minutes.

• His poor first touch? Understandable.

• His weak passes? Fine, he could live with that.

• Being easily dispossessed? A result of his lack of strength—no complaints.

But the missed shot?

That was unacceptable.

Even with his current low skill level, he should have buried that chance.

And with his full luck stat activated, he definitely shouldn't have missed.

So…

Was this match not considered an official game?

Was full luck a lie?

"System Dad, explain yourself!"

Silence.

The system gave no response.

Matteo had no choice but to push the doubt aside and stay focused on the game.

Frozen Out on the Pitch

But soon, he noticed something else—

No one was passing to him.

Especially Rooney.

Even when Matteo was in a better position, Rooney would rather force his way forward alone than pass him the ball.

Matteo didn't blame his teammates.

If he were them, he wouldn't pass to someone who kept making mistakes either.

So, Matteo had no choice but to stay patient and wait for an opportunity.

Ferguson's Gamble

On the sidelines, Mike Phelan watched anxiously.

"Alex… This match might destroy Matteo's confidence completely," he said with concern.

Over the past few weeks, he had watched Matteo's intense training regimen and noticed his rapid progress.

At first, he doubted Ferguson's decision, but now, he saw the potential.

However…

Ferguson was being too impatient.

Matteo was just eighteen years old.

He had never received formal football training before.

And yet, Ferguson had thrown him into the harsh reality of professional football.

One wrong step, and this kid's career could be over before it even begins.

Ferguson's Plan

But Ferguson just chewed his gum, his eyes sharp with conviction.

"What I want is for things to be tough," he said firmly.

He didn't even try to explain himself to Phelan.

Because the truth was—time was running out.

He was old.

His retirement was approaching.

Three years? Four? Five at most.

There wasn't time to let Matteo grow slowly.

He had to force him to grow.

And he believed—

Matteo wasn't afraid of pressure.

The players Ferguson believed in had never let him down before.

And every setback, every hardship Matteo faced now—

Would become his greatest weapon in the future.

Because football wasn't just about skill.

It was about mental toughness.

There were plenty of talented players in the world.

But many failed because they were too mentally weak.

They couldn't handle the pressure.

They vanished.

And that wouldn't happen to Matteo.

Ferguson wouldn't let it happen.

One year, two years—three years at most.

By the time Ferguson retired, Matteo had to be strong enough to lead Manchester United.

A Final Chance

The match was nearing its end.

The fourth official raised the board—

Three minutes of injury time.

Manchester United launched one last attack.

Matteo was still being ignored.

Even Birmingham's defenders had stopped marking him—they knew he wasn't a threat.

In fact, his presence was helping Birmingham more than hurting them.

But Rooney—

Was simply too strong.

The Moment of Redemption

Valencia's cross wasn't great.

But Rooney, using his raw power, managed to control the ball despite being surrounded.

With Nani pulling defenders away, Rooney drove forward, looking for space.

Then—

A slight shift of balance.

A quick strike.

A powerful shot.

The ball rocketed toward the goal.

Joe Hart dived.

But—

Clang!

The shot smashed off the crossbar and bounced out!

A Birmingham defender rushed to clear it—

But the ball rebounded too fast.

And it just so happened to smack straight into the head of a player in a red jersey.

Then—

It ricocheted straight into the net.

Goal!

And the scorer?

Matteo Conti!

The Silence Before the Storm

For a second—total silence.

Then—

Old Trafford erupted.

Matteo wasn't in shock this time.

He felt the adrenaline surge through his veins.

The fire in his chest exploded.

And without thinking—

He sprinted across the field, making a shushing gesture to the crowd.

His message was clear—

Boo me all you want. I'll prove you wrong.