Chapter 21: The Fine Line Between Respect and Rivalry
Training had become different.
The moment David stepped onto the pitch, he could feel it.
It wasn't outright hostility, but it wasn't friendliness either. It was competition.
And that was exactly what he wanted.
---
The drill was one-on-one duels.
Each player had to attack and defend. Win your duel, and you stayed on. Lose, and you rotated out.
David was up first.
The defender in front of him was bigger, stronger.
But David wasn't intimidated. He studied him.
As soon as the whistle blew, he pushed the ball forward.
The defender reacted fast, stepping in aggressively.
> Insight: His momentum is too strong. Fake one way, then explode the other.
David feinted left—the defender bit.
Then, with a sharp cut, David burst right.
Gone.
In two touches, he was past him, slotting the ball into the mini-goal.
---
He stayed on.
Another defender stepped up.
This one was more measured, not rushing in.
David adjusted. This time, patience was key.
A few slow touches, luring him in. Then—a quick acceleration and a clean turn.
Beating him was effortless.
David wasn't celebrating. He just reset and waited for the next one.
---
Some of the other players had started whispering.
Not in disrespect, but in recognition.
"He's sharp."
"He's reading them too well."
"Maybe luck."
It wasn't luck.
It was work.
---
When it was David's turn to defend, he approached it the same way.
Studying his opponent. Reading, reacting, adapting.
They tried to trick him.
It didn't work.
One player tried a flashy step-over sequence—David didn't fall for it. He timed his movement perfectly and stole the ball cleanly.
Another tried to use speed—David stayed composed, using his body smartly to block him off.
He was proving himself on both ends of the pitch.
And the players knew it.
---
After training, as they walked back, one of them spoke up.
"You're annoying to play against."
David glanced at him.
The player smirked.
He wasn't looking down on David anymore.
He was acknowledging him.