Soccer System: All the Skills, One Player!

"Come on, Lucas," he muttered to himself as he pushed the covers aside.

He put his feet on the cold floor and shivered. He put on a crumpled gray T-shirt that he had left on a nearby chair and went straight to the bathroom. The mirror reflected his serious expression, his eyes still a little puffy from sleep.

He washed his face with cold water, and the shock made him take a deep breath. He looked at himself in the mirror, as if analyzing his reflection.

"Today is not just another day," he whispered. "Today is the day that will allow me to take a long leap on my journey, regardless of the outcome."

After brushing his teeth and fixing his hair anyway, Lucas put on his training kit and put on his sneakers. He already knew what he needed to do before anything else: his morning exercise routine.

The door to his small room closed softly behind him, and Lucas was greeted by the chilly morning air.

The campus was still waking up, with few people on the trails and shy sunlight beginning to paint the sky orange.

He adjusted his headphones, choosing a playlist of instrumental music that always helped him concentrate. The soft beats started, and he ran.

Each step on the asphalt seemed to resonate more strongly than usual. Lucas wasn't just running; he was mentally rehearsing.

Every corner he turned, he visualized a move. He remembered what Miguel and Denis had explained about the A-Team's weaknesses.

"Speed on the wings," he whispered to himself. "They're strong in the middle, but they get disorganized on the sides."

After 40 minutes of running and a few sets of push-ups and sit-ups in the nearby park, Lucas returned home. Sweat was running down his face, but his body felt lighter and his mind more focused.

He prepared some bread with peanut butter to eat and some milk. He couldn't eat anything too heavy before the game, and he wasn't even in the mood for the cafeteria food.

Around half past seven, Lucas arrived at Brighton's ground. The morning mist was still hanging over the pitch. He was one of the first to arrive, as he almost always was. He liked to have a moment alone before the confusion began.

The changing room was still empty, and the sound of his footsteps echoed off the walls. He sat down in his usual place and straightened his boots. As he did so, he heard voices approaching from the corridor.

The door opened, and Arthur was the first to enter. He looked just as determined as he had at the meeting two days earlier.

"You're early, Lucas," she commented, taking a seat next to him.

"I wanted to concentrate a bit before everyone else arrived," Lucas replied.

Arthur nodded, taking his boots out of his bag. "Today's the day, man. We can't go wrong." Find adventures at empire

Soon, the changing room filled up. Aidan, Denis, Loki and Miguel arrived at almost the same time, followed by the other players.

The sound of nervous laughter and low conversations filled the room as everyone got ready.

Eddie entered a few minutes later, accompanied by Alex. When everyone was ready, Eddie stepped forward.

"You know what's at stake today," he began, looking at each player. "But I want you to put that aside now. Don't think about what might happen if you win or lose. I want you to think about what you need to do to win. One step at a time."

Alex then took the floor. "Remember what you've trained for. Trust each other. No matter who's on the other side of the pitch, today you're going to show who you are."

With those words, they left the small, changing room. When they finally stepped onto the pitch, the sun was already a little higher, and the A-Team was on the other side, warming up. They looked confident, almost relaxed.

Lucas took a deep breath as he stepped onto the pitch, feeling the texture of the training ground under his boots.

The A-Team, on the other side, was gathered in small groups, carrying out coordinated warm-ups.

Lucas stared at the A-Team players, trying to identify the individuals.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Miguel, Arthur and Denis had talked about them at length during training, and now, face to face, the descriptions took shape.

On the defensive line, Lucas recognized Parker, the central defender, a tall, stocky guy with crossed arms and a serious countenance. Miguel had called him "the wall", not just because of his physical strength, but because he was rarely outmatched in man to man.

Next to Parker was Kevin, shorter but agile, famous for precise interceptions and for never losing his composure.

In midfield, Lucas spotted Javier, with curly hair and a relaxed smile, as he kicked balls high into the air. He was a strategist, the brains of the A-Team, according to Denis. His precise passes could break down any defensive line.

Simon warmed up with quick, exaggerated moves alongside Javier. They matched his reputation for being unpredictable, both with the ball and in his moods.

And in the front line, of course, was Ethan, the right-wing striker. With his uniform already perfectly adjusted, he kicked balls with frightening force towards the reserve goalkeeper.

Ethan was the kind of player who intimidated just by his presence. Denis had described him as "a predator", someone who smelled opportunities and turned them into goals.

Lucas looked away for a moment, trying to ignore the twinge of anxiety in his stomach.

He warmed up with his teammates. But, as he stretched and passed the ball to Raphael, his colleagues' conversations came to mind.

"Parker is strong, but slow in quick turns. If we can lure him out of position, he leaves holes in the defensive line." Miguel had said.

"Simon and Javier are monsters in midfield, but they rely on each other too much. If we cut the connection between them, the dynamic of the A-Team falls apart." Denis added.

"And Ethan... Well, the only way to stop Ethan is not to let the ball get to him." Miguel concluded, almost resignedly.

Now, looking at them, Lucas knew those tips weren't just words thrown to the wind. They were crucial instructions, tools he needed to use.

"Lucas." Arthur's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. "Hey, man, everything okay?"

Lucas shook his head, as if waking up from a reverie.

"I'm fine, just... thinking about what we need to do."

Arthur smiled, tapping him lightly on the shoulder. "Relax. We've trained for this. You're ready."

Eddie's whistle called everyone to the edge of the pitch.

"Guys, that's it. We know that Team-A is good, but they're not invincible. If we stick to the plan and play together, we'll show what we're made of."

Alex, standing next to him, nodded and added:

"Confidence is important, but don't forget: play smart. Focus on the spaces, the quick moves down the flanks. And remember, it's only one game... until the referee blows the whistle. After that, it's war."

The players laughed, and Lucas felt the weight of the tension ease slightly.

The referee called the captains to the center of the pitch. Felix represented Team-B, while Parker, with his imposing stance, was there for Team-A. The sky was now clear; the sun was warming the pitch, but the coldness in the eyes of the players from both teams remained intact.

Lucas took his position in midfield, feeling the light wind hit his face.

Team-B would play first. He noticed that Ethan, in the distance, was looking directly at him, as if he already knew that Lucas would be an important part of the match.

The whistle blew, and the game began.

The ball was rolled back, and the B-Team quickly tried to keep possession. Denis, positioned as a midfielder, shielded the ball with his body before laying it off to Raphael, who was open on the left.

Lucas ran. He knew his job was to exploit the flanks with passes, but to do so, he would need to get past Kevin, who was already positioned to block any attempt.

Miguel raised his head and made a throw towards Lucas. The ball seemed slow in the air, but the impact with Lucas' foot was firm. He took it with one touch, but before he could advance, Kevin was already on him.

"Let's see what you've got!" the defender teased.

Lucas didn't respond. He twisted, trying to escape, but Kevin was quick enough to intercept, sending the ball wide. Lucas frowned, annoyed with himself.

"Thanks! It's only the beginning!" shouted Arthur from afar, trying to encourage him.

The next move was the opportunity Lucas needed. Denis won the ball back in midfield and immediately laid it off to Lucas on the right wing. This time, he didn't wait for Kevin to get close. With a precise touch, he played the ball forward and sped up.

Kevin tried to keep up, but Lucas was faster.

The sight of Parker coming towards him was intimidating, but Lucas knew what to do. With a dry cut, he took the ball into the center and found Arthur entering the area. The pass was millimetric, and Arthur finished with his head, but the goalkeeper went to collect the ball in the bottom left corner.

"Nice one, Mark!" Kevin shouted to their goalkeeper.