Dream Training : The Champions

The next day at the Trafford Training Center, Manchester United u-18 gathered for a training match. Manchester united u -18 was playing at the Premier Academy League, often called FAPAL. FAPAL was the youth league highest level in England. The league was divided into two halves which was the north and the south. Manchester United u-18 was included in the southern Premier Academy League who competed every Saturday.

At this time, Manchester United u-18 was divided into two teams of Team A and Team B. Team A was the most encouraged because it consisted of young performers who often competed at the Premier Academy League. While Team B was filled up by players who rarely appear. To keep the balance, Manchester United u-18 coach, who was Traves Lennon, added Joe Bennet, the brightest young player on this squad to play on Team B.

Bennet was a young star player who had shown his potential and talent since childhood. Manchester United was very optimistic about Bennet's future. Bennet, who played as centre midfield, had gameplay style which was more like a spanish player style who relied on technique.

With Bennet's help,Team B managed to hold off against Team A for the first ten minutes. Several attacks were also provided by Team B under Bennet command. But unfortunately, Nicholas Ayew, as Team B striker, was failed to convert the golden opportunity to a goal.

In the next 20 minutes, Team A managed to break Team B goalpost with strong shot from Ethan McNeill. 5 minutes later, once again golden opportunity was wasted by Ayew. His failure made Team A scored a goal. Team A counterattack, which was using Ayew failure, successfully executed by Pereira.

The score didn't change until 30 minutes where the first round was over. Traves then replaced the players on Team A and Team B. Then he gave the players, who rarely appear, a chance. Ayew disappointing performance made him replaced by Kazuki.

Bennet, who saw Kazuki come to replace Ayew, was shaking his head lightly. Then, he sighed and thought that he was going to lose the game this time. Of course, Bennet disappointed expression was seen by Kazuki. Kazuki understood Bennet feeling. What Bennet had thought was represented most Kazuki teammate thought about him.

The match was resumed. Even though this was only a training match, but the young players desire to win was pretty high. Who wouldn't want to look good and got a praise from the coach? This was especially seen in Team B. Team B players was rarely appered in Premier Academy League. So, they wanted to show their best performance.

However, it also caused a flaw on tactical system, when each player played as an individual rather than a team. Bennet also began to make his way through the attack alone after thinking his comrades were unreliable. Team A and Team B were attacking each other, although the number of goals had not increase, the intensity of sparring was undoubtedly increasing.

At 45 minutes, Kazuki finally got the opportunity. Bennet, who tried to enter the penalty box, drew the attention of the opponent's defense. It was leaving a hole on Team A formation. Kazuki immediately ran to exploit the rift. He entered the penalty box while asking a pass from Bennet.

Bennet, who had seen it, decided to give him the pass. Team A goalkeeper ran to cut the ball, but Kazuki accepted the ball and calmly turned himself. Then, he kicked the ball into the net.

Kazuki didn't celebrate the goal, instead he approached Bennet and said, "That was a good pass, thank you."

Bennet had a choice to continue his break through rather than gave a pass to Kazuki.

"You were in a good position. In that position, if you can't score a goal then don't call yourself a striker." Bennet rolled his eyes.

Even though Kazuki scored a goal, Bennet thoughts it was just a coincidence. The goal did not change Bennet's thought about Kazuki.

The game starting again. Team A guard on Kazuki was increasing. Now, he couldn't find any gap on Team A formation like before. But the understanding and experience that Kazuki got from Inzaghi, was not only enabled him to see and exploited the gap, but also made him created the gap it self.

In the 57th minute, Team B counterattack was began. Kazuki, who received through pass from his teammate, dribbled the ball with fastbreak. Though it may not be the fastest one in Manchester United u-18, Kazuki speed will be enough to get through Team A's defense line.

The center-back who was named Rhodes, tried to close Kazuki space to run, so that Kazuki was forced to change his movement to the right side. The Team A's defense line was leaned to the right, creating a gap on the left side. Kazuki sent a horizontal pass to the left. Bennet received Kazuki pass, then he kicked the ball with confidence. The ball broke through Team A goalpost. As a result, the score was changed to 2-2.

This new training match presented a surprise for Coach Traves and his assistant. Especially the change that was happening to Kazuki. During the whole game, Kazuki had only 3 chances but he scored 1 goal and 1 assist. Truthfully this was a nice change, but Traves thought these changes appeared too late. If only Kazuki had shown such changes three months earlier, he might have a different fate.

On the other hand, Kazuki was very happy about different things. The dream training which he had experienced last night, have a real effect. Kazuki felt a change in his ability, even though it was only a small change but the change was able to make him shone on training match.

With excited feeling, Kazuki slumped in his sleep.

[Welcome To Dream Training]

Kazuki opened his eyes, he saw the same stadium as before. This added to his conviction that the dream had an actual effect on him.

"Congratulations on your first change, how? Now you believe me don't you?" The GM greeted Kazuki with a smile.

Ignoring an irritating GM smile, Kazuki nodded in a calm reply, "you're right, I believe you. So please help me to be a good player." He looked at GM with serious eye.

Kazuki no longer had to hide his ambitions. Because with this [Dream Training], he was sure he would keep growing. It was mean he would reach the peak of football, soon or later.

"Good, that's how you should be, full of ambition, pursue your dreams with all your heart." GM nodded happily with Kazuki's demeanor.

"Then, could you give me another, a great player's experience?" said Kazuki.

"It is waste, a great player's experience is useless if you couldn't apply it in the real world. Without strong basic training, it is useless to experience the most amazing players. The Inzaghi was the one that didn't require a high talent to apply it."

Kazuki thought about GM have said, then, he realized that GM was true. Experienced another player experience didn't mean he could fully replicated the player's ability. What Kazuki needed was solid basic training. Shooting skills, controll the balls, dribble balls, passing balls, heading, etc. Kazuki had a lot of basic training to do.

"From now on you just focus on mode [Training] I'll let you know when you're ready to receive the experience of another player."

Responding to GM's words, Kazuki nodded calmly.