บท 67: Preps Against Huddersfield Town
The next day dawned cold and crisp, with a thin layer of frost covering the grass at Motspur Park. Marcus arrived early, his mind laser-focused on the advice Coach Anderson had given him the day before. Today wasn't just about maintaining fitness or getting through another training session; it was about mastering the subtle, vital skills that could take him to the next level.
Marcus strode into the locker room, the familiar scent of freshly cleaned kits and leather boots hitting him. He spotted his number 22 jersey hanging up, waiting for him. He paused for a moment, thinking about the weight that jersey carried now—his breakthrough into the first team, the growing expectations, and his responsibility to be the team's pivot.
After a quick change into his black training gear, Marcus made his way out to the pitch. It was still early, but the training staff was already setting up cones, small goals, and other equipment. He wanted to start before the others arrived, to get a head start on applying what Anderson had drilled into him.
"Morning, Marcus. You're keen," came a voice from behind him. It was Coach Anderson, strolling out with a clipboard in hand, an approving nod following his comment.
"Morning, Coach," Marcus replied, already setting down his water bottle by the sideline. "Thought I'd get some extra work in."
"Good. Let's put it into practice then. We'll work on one-touch passes first and then move into positioning drills," Anderson said, his voice authoritative but supportive.
The next half hour was intense. Anderson set up drills that focused on quick decision-making, forcing Marcus to keep his head up and move the ball instantly. He passed with the outside of his foot, the inside, and back to the outside again, all in rapid succession. The one-touch drills were designed to simulate the pressure he'd face on matchday, with mannequins and assistant coaches pressing on him like real opponents.
"Move it quicker! Don't hold on to it!" Anderson shouted as Marcus worked through the drill.
Marcus could feel the difference already. He wasn't lingering on the ball like before. Each pass was faster, sharper. When two coaches closed in on him to double-mark, he didn't try to dribble out of the pressure. Instead, he pinged a quick pass back to a support player and moved into a new space to receive it again.
"Good, Marcus. That's what I want to see," Anderson called, walking around the field as he observed.
After the passing drills, they moved to positioning. This was where Marcus knew he had to improve the most. It wasn't just about being skillful on the ball; it was about knowing where to be when the pressure came. Anderson placed Marcus in the center of a simulated midfield, with players mimicking opponents around him.
"Don't always look for the ball at your feet," Anderson advised, "sometimes your movement off the ball is more important. Watch how the defenders react when you shift position. You don't always need to be the one making the pass. Sometimes, just dragging players out of position opens up space for your teammates."
Marcus nodded, absorbing every word. The drill began, and this time, he focused on his off-ball movement. When the ball was deep in their half, he would drift into areas where the defenders didn't expect him, opening up lanes for the other midfielders. As he shifted, he noticed how the defenders followed, leaving gaps for Harvey or Fabio to exploit.
It felt like a revelation—he didn't always have to be the one doing the heavy lifting. His positioning could make all the difference.
"Much better, Marcus," Anderson said, clapping his hands. "See how that opens things up? You keep doing that in matches, and they'll have a tough time marking you out."
By the time the rest of the squad arrived for the full team session, Marcus was drenched in sweat but felt a renewed sense of confidence. He had spent over an hour refining the small details that would make a big difference on matchday. As his teammates joined him on the pitch, Marcus felt sharp and ready, like he was ahead of the curve.
The team went through the usual drills, working on ball control, short sprints, and game scenarios. But Marcus moved with more awareness today. When defenders pressed him, he didn't panic or try to overcomplicate things. He made quick decisions, found open teammates, and moved into space to make himself an option again.
There was a sense of flow to his play that hadn't been there before. Coach Anderson's advice had started to click.
As the session wound down, Anderson gathered the squad in a huddle, his voice calm but commanding. "Remember what we're working for. Huddersfield is going to come at us with everything they have. They're fighting for their lives, and so are we. But we stick to our plan, we play smart, and we keep our intensity up, and we'll get those three points. No slip-ups."
The players nodded in unison, feeling the weight of Anderson's words. Marcus caught Harvey's eye, and they shared a quick nod. The U21 days were behind them, but the chemistry they had built was now more important than ever.
As the players broke off to head back to the locker room, Anderson called out to Marcus one last time.
"Marcus," he said, walking over to him, "you put in good work today. Keep that up, and you'll be a nightmare for teams to deal with. Trust your instincts, but more importantly, trust your teammates. You're the pivot, but you're not alone out there."
"Thanks, Coach," Marcus said, feeling a sense of pride swell inside him.
With that, Marcus headed back into the locker room, a quiet determination settled in his chest. Huddersfield was next, and Fulham needed those three points desperately. Marcus knew he would be marked heavily again, but this time, he was ready. He wasn't just going to beat the press—he was going to be the key to unlocking their defense.
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