Chapter 21: The Pressure to Prove

The early morning sun cast a golden glow over Atlético Madrid B's training ground. The team had gathered for their first session after the 3-2 victory over Getafe B. The win had given Jason confidence, but the battle for the starting striker role wasn't over.

Today's session was a test.

Jason stood at the edge of the pitch, rolling his shoulders as Coach Santiago Burgos blew his whistle.

"Alright, listen up!" Burgos barked. "Yesterday was good, but one game doesn't decide your future. I want to see the hunger in training. If you get comfortable, you get benched. Simple as that."

Jason locked eyes with Emiliano Vázquez, who was tying his laces.

The rivalry wasn't just for show anymore.

It was war.

Drills and Rivalries

The session started with possession drills. Two teams played 5v5 keep-away, with the losing team doing extra sprints.

Jason's team included Miguel Fernández, Diego Rivas, Juan Herrera, and Sergio Nuñez.

Vázquez led the opposing side.

As the drill began, Jason immediately felt the intensity.

Miguel played a quick pass to Jason, who turned sharply to avoid Vázquez's aggressive challenge.

Vázquez didn't hold back.

He shoved Jason's shoulder, making him stumble.

Jason recovered and flicked the ball to Diego before glaring at Vázquez.

"No foul?" Jason muttered.

Vázquez smirked. "If you can't handle pressure, step aside."

Jason clenched his jaw.

Alright. You want to play rough? Let's play.

Finishing Drills – A Battle of Strikers

Next came finishing drills.

Coach Burgos set up a 1v1 striker challenge. The rules were simple:

A midfielder played a through ball.

The striker had to beat the defender and score.

Each player got five attempts.

Jason and Vázquez stood at the front of the line.

The challenge was clear—whoever performed better would have the upper hand going into the next match.

Jason went first.

First attempt: A perfect run, a fake shot to send the keeper diving the wrong way, and a calm finish into the bottom corner.

Second attempt: A tight-angled strike—goal.

Third attempt: A chip over the keeper.

Fourth attempt: A driven shot—saved.

Fifth attempt: A rebound finish.

Jason stepped back. Four out of five.

Now, it was Vázquez's turn.

He cracked his neck and stepped forward.

First attempt: A powerful shot—goal.

Second attempt: A fake shot and finish—goal.

Third attempt: Miss. The ball sailed over the bar.

Jason smirked. He cracked under pressure.

Fourth attempt: A near-post strike—goal.

Fifth attempt: A messy rebound—goal.

Final score: Four out of five.

The same as Jason.

Their teammates whispered.

They were perfectly matched.

Coach Burgos nodded. "Good work, both of you. But matches decide who starts, not training. Keep fighting."

A Surprise Announcement

Just as the session was ending, Coach Burgos gathered the team.

"We have a new challenge ahead," he announced.

Everyone looked up.

"Our next match is against Real Madrid Castilla."

Silence.

Then, murmurs spread across the team.

Real Madrid's B team.

One of the strongest youth squads in Spain.

Jason's heart pounded.

Real Madrid Castilla meant top talents—players close to making their first-team debut.

A serious test.

Burgos raised a hand for silence.

"This is where we see who's truly ready," he said. "The lineup isn't set yet. How you train these next few days will decide if you start."

Jason felt his hands tighten into fists.

This was it.

The moment to prove he belonged.

And to leave Vázquez in the dust.

System Upgrade – A Hidden Advantage

That night, as Jason lay in bed, his system activated.

[ Ding! ]

[ New Match Analysis Unlocked: Real Madrid Castilla Tactical Report ]

Jason's eyes widened.

[ Scanning Real Madrid Castilla's previous matches… ]

[ Generating weakness analysis… ]

A tactical report appeared in front of him, highlighting Castilla's defensive structure.

Their center-backs were strong, but their left-back pushed too high up, leaving gaps behind.

Jason grinned.

That's my way in.

As he scrolled further, the system revealed one final notification.

[ Special Challenge Unlocked: Outshine Real Madrid Castilla's Striker ]

Jason's breath caught.

He clicked on the details.

[ Rival: Daniel Aranda – Castilla's Star Striker. ]

[ Challenge Objective: Score more goals than him. ]

[ Reward: Striker Skill Upgrade (Choose One) ]

Jason sat up in bed.

Daniel Aranda.

A name he knew well.

Castilla's star forward. He had been in La Liga squads for Real Madrid and was rumored to be close to the first team.

A dangerous opponent.

Jason's heart raced.

This wasn't just about proving himself anymore.

This was his chance to show everyone—including Real Madrid—that he belonged on the big stage.

End of Chapter 21

Jason's next challenge: Real Madrid Castilla.

A test against one of Spain's top youth teams—and a showdown against Daniel Aranda.

Can he outshine Castilla's star striker?

Find out in Chapter 22!