CH 7

An Unforgettable Debut—Becoming a Champion in Just Two Minutes

Two minutes.

That's all it took.

Matteo Conti stepped onto the pitch for the first time in his professional career and, through an incredible sequence of luck-driven events, scored a last-minute winning goal to seal Manchester United's Community Shield victory.

Even if luck played a huge role, the fact remained—

He changed the game.

He won the match.

And when he was called up to receive the Man of the Match award, Matteo still couldn't believe it.

Before heading to collect the award, Ferguson pulled him into a tight hug, laughing and patting him on the shoulder.

"It doesn't matter how the goal was scored," Ferguson said with a grin.

"What matters is that it was scored."

"In football, goals and victories are everything."

Matteo nodded, still dazed.

He had actually done it.

Ferguson's New Stance—More Chances Ahead?

While Matteo was still in disbelief, Ferguson turned to his assistant coaches, Mike Phelan and Rene Meulensteen.

"He's starting to show his sharpness."

"I think he deserves more opportunities."

It wasn't just a suggestion—it was a warning.

Ferguson wanted them to stop being so cautious with Matteo.

Even if he wasn't technically ready, his luck alone could prove decisive.

Phelan and Meulensteen were still skeptical.

They wanted to say, "This was a freak accident. It won't happen again."

But they couldn't argue with the facts—

Matteo had just won them a trophy.

So, for now, they kept their doubts to themselves.

Winning Over His Teammates—A Slow Change

Matteo celebrated wildly with his teammates.

And he quickly noticed something—

His relationship with the squad was shifting.

Even players who had been cold or indifferent, like Park Ji-sung, now looked at him differently.

The change wasn't dramatic—

But it was a start.

Of course, not everyone was happy.

Michael Owen, who never got subbed in, and Berbatov, who Matteo replaced, were noticeably less enthusiastic.

But Matteo knew—this was just the beginning.

If he could continue to seize opportunities, continue to prove himself,

Eventually, his teammates would fully accept him.

Maybe even respect him.

System Notification—A Huge Surprise

As Matteo held up the Community Shield trophy, a familiar system prompt appeared in his vision.

[Honor]: Community Shield Champion, Man of the Match

[Reward]: Congratulations! You scored a last-minute winner in your first professional match, securing the Community Shield and earning Man of the Match honors.

As a reward, you have earned [1 Big Wheel Lottery Spin]! Keep striving for more glory!

Matteo jumped in excitement.

A lottery spin on the Big Turntable!

That was worth 50 Football God Coins!

All for just winning the Community Shield.

Then he thought—

What about winning the Premier League? The Champions League?

Would those rewards be even bigger?

Before, he had only focused on scoring goals and assists to earn Football God Coins.

But now?

Winning trophies could also earn rewards!

And if trophies gave rewards…

Would things like Golden Boot, Player of the Season give rewards too?

The system was more rewarding than he imagined!

He loved it!

The First Lottery Spin—Disappointment

Excitedly, Matteo immediately used his free spin.

The Big Turntable appeared, shrouded in fog, spinning rapidly.

He held his breath.

Would he get another Football God Card?

Or maybe a new God-Tier Skill?

The wheel stopped.

And then—

[30 Football God Coins]: The Big Turntable has spoken! Your luck wasn't great this time, but don't worry—try again next time!

Matteo's face fell.

What?!

He had spent a 50-coin lottery ticket and only won 30 Football God Coins?

A 20-coin loss!

System's Additional Offer—A Tough Choice

Then, the system added another message—

[Additional Option]: You can convert your lottery spin into Football God Coins at a 20% discount!

(50 coins → 40 coins)

Matteo quickly did the math.

If he took the exchange, he'd have gotten 40 coins instead of 30.

A better deal.

But…

He hesitated.

What if he got another Football God Card next time?

Or another God Skill?

Those were far more valuable than coins.

In the end, he decided—

He would always take the gamble.

Even though this spin was a loss, it was worth the risk.

Because when he did win something big, it would be completely worth it.

Returning to Training—The Reality Check

The next day, the squad returned to Manchester, and Matteo immediately dived back into training.

One goal. One trophy.

It sounded amazing.

But Matteo knew the truth—

He was still far from being a real footballer.

And his first full training session with the first team proved it.

He struggled with everything.

• His ball control was horrible.

• His first touch was unpredictable.

• His runs were random and lacked tactical awareness.

• His shots were weak and uncoordinated.

In just one session, every flaw in his game was brutally exposed.

He had been lucky in the match.

But here, in training?

Luck couldn't save him.

Compared to the other Manchester United players, he was miles behind.

A Harsh Reality—And a Renewed Resolve

After training, Matteo didn't let himself get discouraged.

Instead, he doubled down.

He threw himself back into special training.

Yes, he had 31 Football God Coins (30 from the lottery, 1 from his goal).

And yes, he could use them to boost his attributes right now.

But—

That would be a waste.

His potential hadn't been fully unlocked yet.

If he used his coins too soon, it would be inefficient.

He had to train naturally first, reach his potential limit, and then use the coins to break through.

That was the smart way to improve.

System Reactivates—A New Development?

Just as Matteo made up his mind—

The system suddenly moved again.

A new notification appeared.

Something was changing.

And Matteo's heart pounded with anticipation.

What now?

Was it another reward?

Or maybe…

Something even bigger?