Man Down

The sharp blast of the whistle cut through the Carrington air, piercing it with a clear command that echoed across the training pitches and made every player straighten their back for just a split second before movement resumed

The first twenty minute match had officially begun and the energy around the small gathered crowd of coaches and players hummed with silent tension and curious expectation

Xander took position in the middle of the pitch, heart steady but alert, not racing but fully awake as the ball started to move and boots clattered on the fresh grass that still carried morning dew in certain shadows

His body moved on instinct with the hours of training and repetition flowing through his veins but his mind stayed locked in sharp as glass as he found himself operating just behind the front three with Garnacho drifting on the left Sancho in the center and Rashford wide on the right shifting and swapping positions when needed

It was not his natural role but there was no time to dwell on that or question it or let himself think about how much more comfortable he felt deeper in midfield with the game in front of him

The match had started and the time for reflection was over

He shifted his stance and scanned the opposition with a careful eye as Team Two already looked fluid and organized in a way that only comes from experience and minutes spent together on bigger stages under brighter lights

Ronaldo stood up top sharp and poised his posture screaming confidence with every casual adjustment of his stance and small nods of his head Bruno Fernandes floated in the middle like a conductor guiding silent music Casemiro stood just in front of the backline calm and ready to snuff out danger like a watchful wolf waiting for any hint of weakness

Xander did not need any system to tell him they were up against it today This team was not just strong they were efficient and cold and sure of themselves Veteran players most of them starters First team regulars with hundreds of appearances and moments that made crowds roar across the world

Xander's team in comparison had flashes of talent and moments of skill but lacked cohesion like a group of dancers who knew the steps but had not yet practiced together under the same music Still he did not let that sink too deep inside him refusing to let it wrap around his mind or weigh down his shoulders

The first few minutes passed with a lot of cautious movement as both sides probed and tested each other like chess players shifting pawns across the board carefully without throwing wild risks into the game so early

The ball zipped across the turf in short bursts two touches three touches pass move repeat like a rhythm that beat quietly under the morning sun Xander dropped deeper than usual to help build possession making himself available staying in the pockets of space that appeared for mere moments and then closed again

He kept his passes simple refusing to complicate the play or show off he just stayed available a quiet constant making himself an option for the next man on the ball and keeping the rhythm steady like a heartbeat

Then the ball was rolled into him with a smooth pass that settled perfectly at his feet He opened up body facing the right side and that was when McTominay came charging in from behind with heavy steps that Xander felt before he saw

Xander saw the shadow just before contact and turned sharply flicking the ball with the outside of his boot letting his left foot drag under his center of gravity to keep balance as McTominay lunged in fully committed to the challenge ready to take the ball

But the ball was gone and so was Xander slipping away like water through fingers as McTominay stumbled past him caught off balance and nearly fell flat in front of everyone

Laughter erupted across the pitch some loud some small but all genuine in the brief moment of lightness it brought

"Oi, Scott" someone shouted from the sideline with a laugh that echoed

"Man down" Garnacho called cracking up as he jogged forward

Even some of the players on the other team snorted unable to hold it in

Xander did not stop he kept his stride and pushed forward making a clean forward pass to Sancho who collected the ball and turned quickly before firing a shot that was barely deflected by a stretching leg

As the play ended and the ball rolled out of bounds Xander jogged back into position trying not to smile too much as the adrenaline hummed under his skin

McTominay gave him a light slap on the back grinning "Alright, alright" he muttered with a playful roll of his eyes "Did not know you had that in you"

Xander did not answer he just nodded breath steady eyes forward as he refocused

Minutes passed and he stayed involved with the play linking well with Fred and Iqbal moving the ball quickly when he had to taking the extra touch when it was safe Twice he set up Garnacho with forward balls that cut between the lines perfectly leaving defenders scrambling and opening small windows of opportunity

Once he got into the box himself and pulled off a quick turn that drew a foul though the ref did not call it since this was just a training match and the flow was more important than the whistle

He did not need the praise or the nods or the claps He just wanted to keep performing Each successful touch built more confidence Every time he picked the right pass made the right run tracked the right player he felt more solid in the moment

Still the game was tight with no clear breakthrough and every player kept the tension in their shoulders as they shifted and pressed

The breakthrough came in the seventeenth minute

Team Two had the ball deep in midfield Casemiro passed quickly to Bruno who took one touch and flicked it over to Ronaldo like it was the most natural thing in the world

Xander tracked the movement feeling the shift in the play but by the time he saw the ball at Ronaldo's feet he already knew what was coming with a certainty that sank into his chest

Ronaldo took a single touch stepped forward and unleashed a shot from just outside the box The strike was clean The ball flew straight and fierce curling slightly in the air with that signature dip and pace that had beaten keepers across the world

It went over Tuanzebe's outstretched boot and past Heaton before anyone could react hitting the top corner and making the net ripple with a finality that no one could argue

It was a goal A clear one

Everyone knew it

Ronaldo did not say anything He just turned away and jogged back toward midfield as if it was nothing new to him

Sancho stood with his hands on his hips exhaling Garnacho kicked the turf once in frustration Rashford tilted his head back and sighed with a resigned smile

Xander stood still for a moment He had not been at fault There was no breakdown no mistake Just a perfect strike from a player who had done that thousands of times in his life under brighter lights

He blew out a quiet breath and walked back into position letting the disappointment slide away so he could focus again

The whistle blew three minutes later sharp and short Time was up

The first twenty minute match had ended one to zero Team Two had won

As they gathered near the sideline Erik ten Hag raised a hand and the chatter died down with a quiet respect that everyone gave him

"Team Two wins" he said simply "Team Three you are next But first"

His eyes swept the field with a small pause before landing back on the rest of them

"Everyone who did not win get to the line One lap Full pitch Fast pace"

There was a small mix of groans and laughter with players nudging each other and rolling their eyes

Rashford groaned the loudest lifting both hands in the air "Ah, come on" he said shaking his head "We ran yesterday"

The field cracked up with laughter Even some of Team Two standing off to the side laughed at the reaction with wide smiles

Xander could not help himself He smiled too chest still rising and falling from the exertion of the match

Rashford jogged slowly to the starting point still muttering under his breath "Next time I am playing in the team that does not have Jadon in it. I'm Tired of carrying his bum ass"

Sancho laughed and shoved him lightly in the shoulder

Xander took his place beside Garnacho crouching slightly as Ten Hag lifted the whistle to his lips

"Ready"

Xander did not speak He stared straight ahead with calm in his eyes and the smallest flicker of determination in his posture

"Now"

They took off

The first steps were sharp with boots digging into the grass as they pushed forward Xander kept his rhythm controlled His arms moved tightly close to his body and his strides were short but steady keeping him efficient and smooth

He glanced around quickly seeing Sancho and Elanga ahead of him Garnacho just behind and Fred and Iqbal staying toward the middle of the pack with focused faces

His legs were already tired from the match but he welcomed the sting letting it remind him that he had worked that he had competed that he was here for a reason

And when he thought back to the moment he had dropped McTominay earlier he felt a small spark inside his chest a quiet pride that warmed him

He had not just kept up He had shown something He had made them laugh not at him but because of something he did

He belonged

They rounded the far corner nearing the halfway mark with breathing growing louder Rashford slowed a bit breathing loudly with his head down

"Next game" he said between gasps "We start Xander up front"

More chuckles behind him breaking the heavy sound of footsteps

As they neared the home straight Xander felt the burn build in his thighs but his posture stayed tall and his arms pumped as he pushed through the discomfort refusing to let himself slow down

The finish line neared with every step

He crossed it just behind Rashford who threw his arms up in the air with a loud breath

"Done" Rashford gasped falling to his knees in the grass

Garnacho dropped beside him laughing "You are dramatic, man"

Xander stayed on his feet hands on his hips head tilted up to the sky as sweat ran down his neck but his lungs adjusted slowly as he found his breath again

His chest swelled not from exhaustion but from something deeper that settled warmly in his bones

He had gone toe to toe with the first team He had not scored His team had lost

But he had left an impression

And deep down he knew that mattered