2. Into the Fire

August 26, 2019, Carrington Training Ground, Manchester

Neil Goyal stepped onto the pristine pitches of Carrington, his heart thumping like a drum.

The Manchester United first-team training ground was a world away from the youth fields: sleek, intense, and buzzing with the aura of stars like Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford.

Yesterday's practice match had earned him this chance, his two goals catching Ole Gunnar Solskjær's eye after Anthony Martial's injury against Crystal Palace.

Now, at 17, with the Legendary Football System humming in his mind, Neil faced the daunting task of proving he belonged.

The system's interface flickered into view with a thought, displaying his stats as a striker.

Mental, Physical, Technical—all at 7 out of 20, except for Finishing (10) and Off the Ball (8), the latter boosted yesterday with his single Stat Point (S.P.). Two more S.P. blinked in the corner, earned from scoring in the youth match.

Neil's years of Football Manager marathons in 2025 had taught him a striker's core: Off The Ball for positioning, Composure for clutch moments, Determination to fight through pressure, First Touch to control play, and Finishing to seal the deal.

He'd prioritize these, starting with Composure to steady his nerves among United's giants.

Neil allocated one S.P. to Composure, nudging it to 8. A calm warmth spread through his chest, easing the jitters as he laced his boots.

He saved the second point, wary of rushing his growth. The system pinged:

Objective: Impress in First-Team Training.

Reward: 1 S.P.

Neil exhaled, ready to face the fire.

The training session was relentless. Solskjær's assistant, Michael Carrick, barked orders, setting up small-sided games to test attacking patterns. Neil was paired with Rashford and Daniel James, the new signing whose speed dazzled.

In a 5v5 drill, Neil received a pass from Pogba, but his First Touch (7) betrayed him, the ball bouncing wide. Pogba raised an eyebrow, and Neil's cheeks burned. "Keep it tight, kid," Rashford called, his tone encouraging but firm. Neil nodded, refocusing.

His Off the Ball (8) helped him drift into pockets of space, and in the next play, he latched onto a through ball from James. Facing a defender, his Composure (8) held, allowing him to slot a pass back to Rashford, who scored.

Solskjær clapped from the sidelines, his eyes tracking Neil.

The system chimed:

Objective Progress: 50%.

Neil's confidence grew, but his Stamina (7) lagged, leaving him gasping by the session's end. He'd need to grind for more points.

After training, Rashford pulled Neil aside. "You've got a spark, mate, but you're raw. Work on that first touch." Neil nodded, grateful for the advice.

Back in 2025, he'd idolized Rashford; now, he was learning from him. The system's interface lingered in his mind, urging him to invest a point which he earned yesterday. Listening to the system. Neil invested it into First Touch raising it from (7) to (8).

August 27, 2019, Carrington

Day two was tougher. Solskjær ran tactical drills, emphasizing United's high-pressing style. Neil struggled to keep up, his Acceleration (7) and Strength (7) no match for Harry Maguire's commanding presence in defensive duels.

During a scrimmage, Neil missed a sitter, his shot sailing over the bar. Finishing 10, and I still fluff it? he thought, frustrated. The system didn't ping, no points for failure.

At lunch, he sat with Mason Greenwood, his youth teammate now also training with the first team. "You feel it too, don't you?" Greenwood said, grinning. "Like you're running on fumes out there." Neil laughed, relaxing. Greenwood's ease reminded him of their shared hunger.

In the afternoon, Neil shone in a shooting drill. His Finishing (10) delivered, curling a shot past David de Gea's outstretched hand. Solskjær nodded, scribbling on his clipboard. The system rewarded him:

Objective Complete: Impress in First-Team Training. +1 S.P.

Neil now had 1 S.P., he put it to First Touch, as at (8) it still lagged compared to the professionals.

August 28, 2019, Carrington

Midweek brought video analysis. Solskjær showed clips of United's Palace loss, pointing out gaps in the attack without Martial. Neil watched intently, his FM knowledge kicking in, he recognized patterns from the 2019-20 season, like United's struggle against low blocks.

In training, he focused on movement, his Off the Ball (8) helping him ghost past markers. During a 7v7 game, he linked up with Juan Mata, whose pass found him in the box. His First Touch now (9) did not falter, and he poked the ball to Greenwood for a tap-in.

Mata clapped Neil's shoulder. "Good run, lad. Keep moving like that." Neil grinned, the praise fueling him.

The system pinged:

Objective: Assist in Training Match. +1 S.P.

The Southampton match loomed, and whispers suggested Solskjær might name youth players on the bench.

August 29-30, 2019, Carrington

The final days before Southampton were grueling. Solskjær pushed fitness drills, testing Neil's Stamina (7), which left him doubled over, lungs burning.

He envied James' blistering Pace, vowing to improve his own later. In a final scrimmage, after losing the ball to Aaron Wan-Bissaka's tackle, he sprinted back, winning it in midfield.

His pass set up Rashford, earning a nod from Solskjær.

The system chimed:

Objective: Show Tenacity in Training. +1 S.P.

Neil now had 2 S.P., enough to make a difference. Late on August 30, alone in the dormitory, he opened the system.

Rashford's words echoed—First Touch was critical. He allocated one more point to it, raising First Touch to 10. A tingling sensation ran through his fingers, as if the ball would stick better now.

He did not stop there and raised his Determination to (8). His updated stats read: Off the Ball (8), Composure (8), Determination (8), First Touch (9), Finishing (10).

August 31, 2019, Morning, Carrington

The day of the Southampton match arrived. Neil woke with butterflies, knowing Solskjær would announce the squad soon. He hadn't made the bench yet, but his week with the first team felt like a dream.

Training alongside Rashford, Pogba, and Mata had sharpened his resolve, and the system's rewards. Earned through goals, assists, and tenacity—gave him hope.

His FM knowledge told him Southampton's compact defense would test United's attack. If he got a chance, his improved First Touch and Composure could make an impact.

As he headed to the team meeting, Greenwood caught up, nudging him. "You're killing it, Neil. Keep pushing, yeah?"

Neil smiled, his Determination (8) burning.

The system pinged:

New Objective: Make the Matchday Squad vs. Southampton.

Reward: 2 S.P.

Neil gripped his boots, ready for whatever came next. Old Trafford awaited, and his legacy was taking shape.