Soccer System: All the Skills, One Player!

All the players, as well as the coaching staff, were standing or leaning against something in the parking lot. And the game of dissent had already begun.

"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!" Felix said.

Javier crossed his arms and shook his head. "And when you have a choice, Felix? Because that happens too. You'd rather risk an unnecessary dribble or pass backwards, when the game could flow much better with a simple pass."

"Maybe I don't trust you that much!" Felix snapped, which silenced Javier.

"And nobody's going to talk about them?" Loki said and pointed to the side where Miguel and Raphael were standing. "How many times have those two missed easy balls or misplaced crosses? That's frustrating."

Miguel couldn't hold it in. "Oh, so it's our fault now? Why don't you look in the mirror, Loki? Who was it that lost possession in the opponent's penalty area last game and resulted in their counter-attack?"

"Stop!" Raphael intervened, raising his voice. "This isn't just a discussion about individual mistakes. If we're going to solve anything here, we need to talk about the collective. We're all failing at something."

Eddie snorted, snapping to attention. "Raphael's right. The disconnect Lucas mentioned isn't just the fault of one or two players. I also feel that I haven't done enough to unify the group. Maybe I'm focusing too much on strategies and tactics, forgetting that soccer is, above all, a collective and emotional game."

The group was silent for a moment. Kader, who was standing next to Alex, looked around. "Guys, I'm quiet and I talk a little, but I see what you don't say in words. I see how some of you avoid eye contact in the changing rooms, how you stay in small groups during breaks. This is a symptom of something deeper. If we don't sort it out, nothing will change on the pitch."

Miguel sighed, finally seeming to let his guard down. "Okay, maybe I have something to admit, too. Lucas, sometimes I feel you don't trust me to make plays. I run into space, but you hesitate to pass the ball to my side."

Lucas held up his hands, defensive. "It's not a question of trust, Miguel. Sometimes I just don't see the space. Maybe I need to improve my vision of the game. Thanks for bringing that up."

"Don't be so neat! That's your problem!" Aidan exclaimed.

Aidan's words made a vein in Lucas' forehead pop out, but he kept his anger in check. "Maybe you're right, Aidan. But you know what? Maybe you need to stop being so impulsive. I'm not saying it with words, but how many times do you go forward without looking at the team? Soccer isn't just about courage, it's about intelligence too."

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Aidan opened his mouth to reply, but before he could say anything, Felix muttered:Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"It's true... He wants to solve everything himself, but he doesn't realize that he's sabotaging the entire team with that mentality."

Aidan let out a dry laugh. "Oh, because you and Javier are perfect examples of teamwork, aren't you? Funny how the people who make the most mistakes are the ones who complain the most."

"Oh, right, the full-back who loves hiding behind his marker is going to give us a moral lesson now," Felix retorted, crossing his arms.

Loki joined in, gesturing exaggeratedly. "And what do you have against that now?"

Lucas observed the growing tension between his teammates. The mutual accusations and the aggressive tone of the words threatened to fragment the group even further. Realizing that the situation could get out of hand, he took a deep breath and raised his hands in a conciliatory gesture.

"Everyone, let's stop for a moment. We're all here for the same purpose: to improve as a team and achieve our goals. Instead of pointing fingers and blaming each other, how about each of us sharing constructively, what we think could be improved? No accusations, just suggestions for how we can grow together. Let's do it in order, each speaking from their own perspective. What do you think?"

The group exchanged glances, some still with closed expressions, but gradually they nodded. Eddie, the coach, stepped forward and agreed:

"Good idea, Lucas. Let's listen to each other with respect."

"Who would like to start?" Lucas asked.

Anton, the goalkeeper, sniffed and spoke up: "I can start. I feel that sometimes our defense gets disorganized, and that leaves me vulnerable in goal. Maybe we can work more on communication between defense and goalkeeper."

Daniel Riber, one defender, nodded. "I agree, Anton. We can establish signals or keywords to coordinate better during the game."

Aidan, on the left-back, then took the floor:

"Sometimes, I move forward without considering the position of my teammates. I'm going to be more aware and look more at the team before going on the attack."

"And I'm going to work on releasing the ball more quickly and relying more on my teammates to continue the play." Felix said.

Miguel looked at Kucas. "Lucas, I appreciate your honesty earlier. I'll make an effort to position myself better and facilitate your moves."

Raphael, the left winger, added:

"And I'm going to train more on crossing and finishing so that we can be more effective in attack."

Eddie watched the progress of the conversation with satisfaction. "I can see we're on the right track. Open and honest communication is fundamental to a team's success. Let's keep working together, supporting each other and strengthening our bonds on and off the pitch."

Arthur suddenly raised his right hand. "Wait, there's still something I have to say."

All eyes turned to him, and the silence that followed showed the group's full attention.

"Eddie, I understand you need to give Willian playing time. He's an excellent player and deserves his opportunities. But to be substituted at half-time, especially when I feel I can still contribute, is demoralizing. As a center-forward, I know my job is to score goals, and being taken off so early makes me feel like I'm not playing my part... Also, trying to hold on to the lead from half-time seems like a rash strategy. In the United game, we should have kept the pressure on and tried to extend the lead, not just defend."

Eddie, the coach, took a deep breath, absorbing Arthur's words. Before he could respond, Alex, the assistant coach, intervened.

"Eddie, I mentioned earlier that this approach could negatively affect Arthur's confidence," said Alex with a tone of mild disapproval. "Replacing our main striker at half-time could be interpreted as a lack of confidence in his abilities. Willian, despite his remarkable talent, didn't have the desired impact in the last game because he was also isolated from the ball. The change didn't bring the benefits we had hoped for."

Eddie nodded slowly, acknowledging the validity of the observations. "You're right... Arthur, I apologize if my decisions made you feel undervalued. My intention was to preserve the advantage and give Willian an opportunity, but I understand now that this may have been counterproductive. I promise that, from now on, I will be more careful with these decisions and will consider the emotional and psychological impact on each of you."

Arthur relaxed his shoulders, relieved to be heard. "Thanks, coach."

Kader, who was watching intently, added: "Trust between coach and player is fundamental. When a player feels that the coach believes in him, his performance improves significantly. Dad, your openness to listen shows your commitment to the well-being of the team."

Eddie smiled, appreciating the support of his daughter and assistant. "Thank you, Kader. I think that's the only way we'll achieve our goals."

"How about we set up weekly meetings to discuss our concerns and suggestions? That way, we'll maintain constant communication and avoid resentments building up." Lucas suggested.

Willian readily agreed. "I think that's an excellent idea. It will allow us to resolve issues quickly and will strengthen our team spirit."

Raphael added: "And we can also use this time to get to know each other better off the pitch. Integration activities can improve our chemistry during matches."

"Then it's settled." Eddie said. "We'll have weekly meetings to discuss our performances and strengthen our bonds. In addition, we'll plan integration activities to get to know each other better. I'm confident that, with this approach, we'll become a more cohesive and effective team."

The group nodded in unison, feeling happy that the problems had been solved.

After a long four-hour drive from Manchester to the city of Brighton, the players finally arrived at Brighton's training center.

The players went to the dormitories at the Seyek Institute, and Eddie was called to an unexpected meeting.

William McGonagall, Brighton's youth director, had asked to see him. Eddie entered the room, suspicious, but hoping that the news about the team's recovery work would be enough for McGonagall to calm down.

William looked at Eddie with a serious expression, without disguising his frustration. "Eddie, your work is not meeting expectations. The team hasn't shown consistent progress yet, and the results haven't been satisfactory. We've discussed this before, after the defeat of Dortmund and, frankly, progress has been very slow."

"I understand, sir. I'm doing my best. There's always room for improvement, and that's what we're focused on. We're trying to strengthen the team and the communication within the group, both on and off the pitch. It's a junior team full of strong personalities."

William sighed, crossing his arms. "I know they are, Eddie, but the results speak for themselves. Out of consideration for your work and your history with the club, I won't sack you. You will be demoted. From now on, you will be the assistant coach to the new head coach, Jimenez. He will be in charge and you will work under his supervision."

William continued. "I hope you're really committed to this new phase. Jimenez and you have already worked together, and his strong approach will be what we need now."