Soccer System: All the Skills, One Player!

Half an hour later, with most of the bus plunged into a silence broken only by the dull rumble of the engine and the rain against the windows, Lucas got up from his seat and walked over to where Kader was sitting. She gestured for him to settle down next to her.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" Lucas asked, keeping his voice low.

Kader took a deep breath before answering. "Tanaka, you're one of the most respected players on the team. Everyone looks up to you as a leader, and you're the captain now. And that's exactly why I wanted to talk to you. Something isn't right, and I think you feel it too."

Lucas didn't reply immediately. He knew exactly what Kader was talking about. The team had been playing well for most of the games, but the collective energy seemed different. It wasn't just tiredness; there was something deeper.

"I felt it," he admitted. "It's not just us on the pitch. It feels like everything around us is... strange. Like we're disconnected. Have you noticed that too?" Discover hidden tales at empire

Kader nodded, crossing his arms. "It didn't start today. I think it's been going on since the defeat against Dortmund almost three weeks ago. In that game, you played well, but something changed afterwards. Communication between you decreased, the atmosphere at training became more tense, and even my father and Alex are different."

Lucas regarded her. "Eddie and Alex? What do you mean?"

"They're more... distant," Kader explained. "They don't fight openly, but you can feel the discomfort. My father replaced Jimenez when the B-Team became A-Team, but the higher-ups never believed he was any better. And now, with the inconsistent results, they're blaming my father, even though the team is playing well."

Lucas frowned. "But that's unfair. Eddie is a good coach. He's got our backs."

"I know," said Kader. "But it's easier to blame the coach than to admit to looking for the problem. The management doesn't want to assume that maybe the squad needs more support or that the planning wasn't as good as it should have been."

Lucas nodded slowly, digesting Kader's words. He knew that the role of a coach was a thankless one. The players received credit for victories, while the coach nearly always took the blame for defeats.

"And you think this is affecting the team?" he asked.

"Absolutely. The lack of confidence from the superiors affects my father and Alex, and that ends up reflecting on you. He makes more substitutions and tries to get things right, but that ends up hurting some players' egos and the team. I think that's why you seem to play under more pressure than before. It creates a destructive cycle."

Lucas ran his hands through his hair in frustration. "So, what can we do? How do we break this cycle?"

Kader smiled slightly. "That's why I'm talking to you. You can influence your teammates to bring the team back into focus. You can talk to them, understand what's going on and help rebuild that chemistry. As for my father, I'll try to do the same. He trusts you a lot, but he's carrying an enormous weight."

Lucas took a deep breath. He felt the responsibility growing on his shoulders, but he also knew that Kader was right. If something wasn't done, Brighton could go into a decline that would be difficult to reverse.

"All right," he said with renewed determination. "I'll talk to the team. We'll get through this together."

Kader nodded, satisfied. "I knew I could count on you, Tanaka. Thanks for listening."

As the bus continued on its way, Lucas returned to his seat and leaned back, staring at the ceiling as he planned a plan in his mind. He knew the challenge would be great, but he also knew that Brighton had the potential to bounce back. And with talented players, a dedicated manager and allies like Kader, he believed they could overcome any adversity.

The night in the hotel where the team was staying was silent. In Lucas' room, a bedside lamp illuminated the dim light. He was sitting up in bed, his eyes fixed on the ceiling, while his thoughts ran through an incessant stream.

The conversation with Kader had set off an alarm in his mind, and now he couldn't ignore the signs that something was deeply wrong.

What could he do? How could he help Brighton rediscover the connection that seemed lost? He knew that his influence as captain was a powerful tool, but it needed to be used wisely. Pointing fingers or demanding more dedication from his colleagues could only make the problem worse.

He got out of bed and walked over to the window, watching the raindrops trickle down the glass. His mind wandered back to the last few games. Most of the mistakes weren't technical; they were emotional. The sparkle in the players' eyes, that spark that moved the team towards their first victories, seemed to have gone out. Was it the weight of expectations, pressure from superiors, or internal tensions that were consuming them all?

"Maybe the solution isn't on the pitch," Lucas muttered to himself.

He needed to relieve the tension, to bring lightness to the team and restore trust not only among the players but also with the coaching staff.

Suddenly, an idea took shape in his mind. It was unconventional, but it could work.

Lucas went back to bed, grabbed a notepad he had brought in his backpack, and started writing. With each line, the idea gained more structure, and he visualized how he could put the plan into practice.

The next morning, the team gathered in the hotel parking lot to stow the last of our luggage on the bus back to Brighton.

The hotel parking lot was damp, a remnant of the rain that had fallen throughout the night.

Some players were physically exhausted, others pensive, and a few with calm countenances. The bus engine rumbled quietly, and the suitcases were placed in the luggage compartment with the usual care.

Eddie was standing next to Alex, discussing something in a low voice, while Kader was checking something in his mouth.

Lucas Tanaka watched the scene from afar. He knew he couldn't let this moment slip away. He took a deep breath, as if preparing for a speech in front of a crowd, and took a few steps forward.

"Guys, can you stop what you're doing for a moment?" Lucas called out, but without being overbearing. The movement in the parking lot gradually ceased. The players turned to him, some with curiosity, others with tired expressions.

Eddie raised an eyebrow. "What's up, Tanaka?"

Lucas looked at everyone. "Before we go back to Brighton, I need to talk to all of you. In fact, I need us to do something together. Here, now, before we set foot in the Training Center again later."

The players exchanged confused glances. Loki, always tired, said:

"Can't this wait? We're all exhausted."

"No, Loki. It can't," Lucas replied. "What I'm going to propose here may seem strange, but it's something we need to do as a team. I trust you'll understand."

Eddie stepped forward. "Tanaka, what do you have in mind?"

"We know something isn't right. On the pitch, in training, in meetings... everything seems... disconnected. As if we were together physically, but distant in everything else," Lucas said.

Murmurs began among the players. Javier frowned, but said nothing. Miguel leaned forward, interested.

"Finally, someone said that!" exclaimed Raphael.

"Yes, I think we all feel it here, especially when we're in tight situations. And what do you suggest we do?" asked Felix.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"A game of discord." Lucas replied, and the parking lot fell into a timid silence. "I want us to use this moment to be completely honest. To get things off our chest. To say what's bothering us, what's holding us back. I know this can lead to fights and tensions, but we need it. We need to clear the air, to say what is trapped inside each of us. And we need to do it here, away from the training center, away from the formalities. It's safe here."

Eddie looked hesitant, but Alex, his assistant, was the first to agree. "Things are tense, and this could help."

Kader nodded. "I think it's a good idea. If we don't deal with these problems now, they'll continue to grow." Eddie sighed.

Eddie sighed. "All right. You have our support, Tanaka. Let's see where this goes."

Lucas thanked him with a look. He called everyone to gather in a makeshift circle in the parking lot.

"I'll start." Lucas said. "And I want you to know that this isn't about pointing fingers. It's about solving problems. So be honest, but respectful." He looked at Arthur. "Arthur, I'll be honest. You're an excellent center forward, but lately you've been making so many mistakes that it's getting annoying to hear you complain and frown every time you're substituted. It affects team morale. We need you to lead by example, not with criticism."

Arthur's eyes widened, clearly taken aback. "I..." He hesitated, but took a deep breath. "Maybe you're right. I'm frustrated by the opportunities we've missed, but I'll try to improve on that."

Javier took the floor. "If I'm going to be honest, I'll speak up too. Felix, sometimes you hold the ball too much. We need you to trust us more."

Felix frowned, and he wasn't one to take criticism easily. "It's easy to ask me not to hold the ball up when you don't give me a passing option when I need it. It's always Lucas who has to get free or I have to play backwards because you're on the pitch!"

Tempers flared like that, but Lucas smiled. That kind of thing Felix said would never be said in a normal situation, but in a game of discord, it was a natural thing to say.