章節 44: Day before the match

The sun was low in the morning sky as the Derby County players gathered on the stadium grounds for their pre-match training. Water bottles in hand, they stood chatting in small groups, their breath visible in the crisp air. Suddenly, the sharp clang of a ball striking the iron frame of the goal echoed across the field. The players turned toward the sound, followed immediately by a loud, frustrated shout of, "Shit!"

Jason Knight squinted toward the training area. "Hey, the kid's still at it. It's been two days," one of the players remarked. "The match is tomorrow. He shouldn't tire himself out."

Jason said nothing, his gaze fixed on the familiar silhouette of David Jones, relentlessly practicing free kicks. He'd only been with the team for a little over a month, yet time and again, he had proven himself a formidable talent. As Jason watched, something in David's unyielding determination stirred admiration and concern. Jason turned and walked away, leaving David to his solitary efforts.

David, however, was lost in his own world. Two days earlier, Wayne Rooney—his mentor, coach, and friend—had pulled him aside after practice.

"David," Rooney had said, "you've got good shooting, accuracy, and power. Why not incorporate free kicks into your arsenal? It could take your game to the next level."

David had been flattered and excited by the suggestion. In his mind, mastering free kicks would be a piece of cake. But the reality had been far from his expectations. Since that conversation, he had attempted over 400 free kicks and scored only about eight. And that was against the B-team keeper, with no real pressure of a match scenario. Each miss felt like a heavy blow to his confidence.

Feeling deflated, David lined up another shot. He wanted to keep going, but Kelle Roos, Derby County's former starting goalkeeper, interrupted his thoughts. "I'm heading out for a drink, then home. You should do the same," Kelle said, wiping sweat from his brow.

David opened his mouth to protest, but before he could, a hand tapped his arm. Turning, he saw Wayne Rooney standing beside him. There was a calm but firm expression on the coach's face.

"David," Rooney began, "I see the fire in you. That's good. But you need to understand something: football isn't easy. Mastering something new takes time, patience, and persistence. You're doing well, but it's okay not to get it right immediately. This is part of the journey."

David groaned, the frustration evident in his voice. "I just... I thought I'd be better at this by now."

Rooney placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "You're already better than most, but there's always room to grow. Trust me, you'll get there. Now, go home, rest, and reset. We've got a match tomorrow, and I'll need you at your best."

Reluctantly, David nodded and gathered his things. After a hot shower, he returned home, but rest didn't come easily. The frustration of not mastering free kicks gnawed at him. For the first time, he felt like he was struggling with something in football. The solitude didn't help. Without many friends outside his teammates, he decided to call his mom, but she didn't pick up. He tried Jason next.

"Hey, Jason, think you could come over? Play some games or something?" David asked.

"Sorry, mate," Jason replied. "I'm with my girlfriend right now. Why don't you find one too?" he added with a laugh before hanging up.

Left to his own devices, David decided to tackle some homework from his online courses. After finishing, he powered on his newly bought PS4, hoping to unwind. Fortnite had become his second-favorite game, trailing only behind FIFA, and he loved the challenge of competing against others online.

As he entered the game, a friend request popped up from someone named NotZoeyBlack. He recognized the name and accepted. Moments later, her voice came through his headset.

"Hey, noob. Where have you been?" she teased.

David rolled his eyes, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Stop calling me a noob. I told you, I have training. I even have a match tomorrow."

"Wait, you were serious? You're an athlete?" she said, her tone laced with surprise.

"Why do you sound so shocked?" David replied, smirking despite himself.

They played for hours, the banter and competition momentarily easing his frustration. When they finally logged off, David felt a bit lighter. He climbed into bed, knowing the next day would be demanding. But as his eyes closed, the clang of the ball hitting the crossbar and Rooney's words echoed in his mind. Tomorrow was another opportunity to prove himself.