Soccer System: All the Skills, One Player!

It was hard to decide whether Jimmy was a genius or a braggart. But for the time being, Lucas put these concerns to one side. He had something more pressing on his mind: the next game against Manchester United.

"Manchester United..." he muttered to himself, leaning his elbows on the table and rubbing his face with his hands. They were one of the most feared teams in the category, known for their devastating attacking duo: Jason Hawthorne and Malik Adebayor.

Both were fast, skillful and clinical in their finishing. Lucas knew that containing this duo would be one of the biggest challenges Brighton would face this season.

He got up, paid his bill, and went outside. The cold autumn wind hit him, but he didn't mind. He needed some fresh air to clear his head.

When he got home, Lucas found his backpack in the corner of his room, ready for the next day's training. Wasting no time, he grabbed his tablet and opened videos of the latest Manchester United matches. He watched the movements of Hawthorne and Adebayor, observing how they moved and created space. He made a mental note of some tendencies: Hawthorne liked to cut inside, while Adebayor was lethal on counter-attacks.

The next day, Lucas was the first to arrive at Brighton's training center. Soon, other teammates arrived. Felix was the first to join him.

"You're worried about the game, aren't you?" Felix asked with an almost wicked smile.

Lucas smiled, trying to cover it up. "Worried? Not so much. Just getting ready."

Felix let out a short laugh. "Of course. Because watching videos of your opponent during lunch is something everyone does."

A vein almost popped out of Lucas's cheek, already knowing that it was Raphael who had told Felix.

"We know they're going to come out on top. We need to be ready. And, speaking of which, we have to work on our defensive transition. If they win the ball back in the middle, we're dead."

Felix nodded, now more serious. "I agree. Let's talk to Eddie about it."

Shortly afterwards, the rest of the team arrived, and training began. Eddie gathered the players in the center of the pitch and gave them the day's instructions.

"Boys, the game against Manchester United will be an actual test. They have one of the best attacking duos in the league. I want total focus on marking and efficiency of the ball. Javier, Felix, you two will be the key to keeping the balance. And Daniel, Luiz, I need you to be at your best in defense. Is that clear?"

A chorus of "Yes, coach!" echoed around the pitch.

The night before the match, Lucas was lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling. The captain's armband was still something new for him, but he felt he was getting used to the weight of the responsibility.

---

On the day of the match, the atmosphere was tense. The makeshift stands at Manchester United's training center, although modest, were packed with anxious onlookers, mostly made up of scouts, parents and journalists from the youth team.

Lucas got off the team bus with his face closed in concentration. The headphones isolated the surrounding noise, but they couldn't silence the thoughts that hammered incessantly in his mind.

The weight of responsibility as captain and the memory of his own promise to lead without sacrificing performance pushed him to a dangerous limit between inspiration and self-blame.

"Lucas." called Eddie, walking up beside the player. "I need you today. Both as a player and as a leader. They know how to set up high pressure and explode on the counter-attack. Our job will be to frustrate them."

Lucas nodded, taking off his headphones. "We're ready, coach. I know we are."

As the team entered the pitch, the looks on their faces were almost cutting. Jason Hawthorne, with his imposing height and shaggy blond hair, looked the very picture of an elite European striker. Next to him, Malik Adebayor had the aura of a patient predator, with eyes that scanned the pitch for any weakness.

The gray clouds hung ominously over Manchester United's training center, creating a dramatic backdrop for the match that was about to begin.

Lucas adjusted his captain's armband as the players positioned themselves in the center circle. He felt the weight of countless eyes on him, but above all he heard his own conscience, an implacable judge reminding him of his promise: to lead without compromising.

On the opposite side, Jason Hawthorne and Malik Adebayor exchanged words with a corner smile.

Lucas returned the look, but inside his mind was a storm. "They want to intimidate us. I won't let that happen."

When the referee blew the whistle, the game began with overwhelming intensity. Manchester United, true to their reputation, pressed from the first touch of the ball.

Felix tried to get forward, but was caught out by a quick shot from Malik. The ball spilled to Jason, who immediately advanced. Luiz Fernando positioned himself to tackle him, but Jason dribbled past him with a short feint, leaving him behind.

"Hold him, Luiz!" shouted Lucas, running towards the ball.

Jason set up the shot, but Daniel Riber came up with a precise dribble, deflecting the ball for a corner.

"Yes, Daniel!" exclaimed Felix, already positioning himself to save the corner.

Jason, frustrated, raised an eyebrow at Malik. "These guys are nervous. We're going to choke."

Malik replied with a smile at the corner of his mouth.

From the corner kick, Jason strategically positioned himself in the penalty area. Lucas tried to organize the marking, but felt the lack of time to adjust everything.

"Felix, cover the front post! Daniel, cover their nine!"

The cross came in venomously, straight to Jason, who rose strongly. Anton, the Brighton goalkeeper, flew out to intercept, but it was too late.

Jason's header hit the crossbar. The ball bounced on the line, but didn't go in. On the rebound, Felix got his head to the ball to clear the danger.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"That was close..." muttered Raphael, walking close to the halfway line.

Eddie crossed his arms and shouted:

"Close the gaps! Don't give those two a chance!"

Finally in possession, Brighton breathed. Felix played the ball to Lucas, who quickly distributed it to Raphael in the left wing. Raphael surged forward, but two markers surrounded him.

"I'm here!" shouted Javier, asking for the ball.

Raphael retreated towards him, but Javier spread his legs and let the ball through. Lucas was behind, picked up the ball, and immediately raised his head.

Miguel made a run down the right. Lucas laid the ball off to him. Miguel controlled it skillfully, cut into the middle, and shot from outside the area. The ball went towards the top corner and took a dangerous turn, but the Manchester United goalkeeper stretched to save it.

"Good try! Don't worry!" encouraged Lucas, clapping his hands.

Jason, now back to help with the build-up, turned to Malik with a serious expression.

"They're not as easy as I thought. We're going to have to force the mistake."

"Just smother their No. 7. He's that Japanese guy they're talking about."

In midfield, Javier tried to control the ball, but was dispossessed by the opposing midfielder, who quickly laid it off to Jason.

"Watch out for 9 again!" shouted Felix, dropping back to cover.

Jason advanced, but Loki came up with a precise tackle, knocking the ball out of his feet.

"Not so fast," muttered Loki as he calmly took off.

Malik approached and tried to press him, but Loki kicked him forward.

As the game went on, murmurs broke out among the United players. Malik, clearly irritated by Brighton's defensive organization, teased Felix after a tackle.

"You're only holding on because you're lucky. It won't last long."

He just didn't know that Felix was the worst target for taunts. Felix responded with a dismissive smile and said:

"If that's luck, then you're going to hate what comes next."

Soon, Brighton finally found a gap. Lucas advanced through the middle, driving the ball with confidence. He saw Raphael free on the left and made the pass. Raphael crossed the first time, and Arthur appeared in the area, winning the aerial contest.

His header was accurate, but the opposing goalkeeper made another spectacular save, putting it out for a corner.

Lucas rushed out to take it, and the cross was almost perfect, going straight to the penalty spot. Daniel Riber rose high and headed firmly, but the ball went wide.

As the game resumed, Jason tried another move, this time receiving a deep pass from Angel Gomes, who had been trying for some time to use his keen vision to find spaces in the Brighton defense.

Jason advanced through the middle, taking on Luiz Fernando in a tense duel. With a quick dribble, he tried to leave the defender behind, but Luiz, well positioned, tackled him with precision.

Brighton regained possession of the ball, and Lucas quickly organized the move. He played a quick pass to Felix, who spun around his marker and released Miguel down the right. Discover stories at empire

Miguel ran like lightning, outpacing Di'Shon Bernard. As he approached the area, he crossed low to Arthur, who was well marked.

Arthur tried to turn, but Lee O'Connor's pressure prevented him from finishing. The ball fell to Raphael, who tried a first-time shot. Goalkeeper Matej Kovar, with impressive reflexes, made a spectacular save, but the rebound fell to Lucas on the edge of the box.

Lucas latched onto the ball and shot powerfully. The ball flew past a sea of players and into the back of the net.

BRIGHTON GOOOAAAAAL!

Lucas ran towards the back of the goal, picked up the ball and started running with it towards midfield. This was an attitude almost exclusive to teams that needed to score to equalize, but at that moment, Lucas demonstrated it didn't matter if it was an away game at the Training Centre of one of England's biggest clubs. He just wanted to win.