From Arsenal to the Ball God

Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Garrispeed’s First Goal as Manager! Will Those Shoes Really Become a Collector’s Item?

”Oh.....!”

A sharp voice resonated from the stadium’s broadcast studio. The commentator from Sky Sports stood up, holding his head, instantly drawn into the excitement of the field, ”A goal right after kick-off! A long shot to the world! From number 31, Ma’el!

”I must reintroduce this player from Arsenal, who on his debut delivered two assists. This is his second professional league match, and already he has scored!

”Four rounds into the Championship, he has played twice and achieved one goal and two assists! You can’t help but be eager to see how high he can go in the future!

”Sheffield United takes the lead at home, Ma’el scored Garrispeed’s first goal since taking office, a moment worth commemorating!”

Saying this, he turned his gaze to the coach’s seat on the sidelines, eager to see Garrispeed’s reaction.

Unexpectedly, the young coach had already clenched his fists and rushed to the sideline, trembling while celebrating towards the sky.

Indeed, leading in his first match in charge, how delightful it is.

The balance of victory is now tipping in his favor, and he is likely to earn a splendid opening win!

Moreover, he is starting his coaching career with such a spectacular world-class goal!

The stadium director wisely switched the footage to Garrispeed on the sidelines, where he shouted, cheered, and vented the pressure of recent times with a burst of ”Yeah....!”

Quickly, his close assistant coach jumped onto his back, bending his body under the weight.

The red tie hung down his chest, adding a touch of festive feeling to their celebration team, a truly unforgettable moment.

”What did I say! What did I say!”

Among the celebrators, the original chief scout Jorson was the most agitated; after Garrispeed took charge, he naturally entered the coaching staff as an assistant coach.

”He’s simply the king of long shots!”

Jorson smiled proudly, with a joy and excitement that his opinion was confirmed, resembling ’Wang Yousheng’s’ spirit.

”You deserve credit.”

Garrispeed hammered several times on his shoulder, uttering the words he most wished to hear, not as a compliment, but as a heartfelt affirmation.

After celebrating, he walked to the sidelines, watching the young man celebrating in the corner flag area, a face full of envy.

Seeing himself when young?

No.....more so, he sees a rising new star, beginning to write his own story in the Championship League, a league filled with countless inspirational epic tales.

”Even if it’s not fame from one goal, it marks a promising future.”

Garrispeed smiles, envisioning a bright development for him, awaiting an even bigger stage.

......

Korni Training Base, youth team meeting room.

The heat of Ma’el’s goal quickly spread here, with everyone hearing the commentator’s passionate roar and seeing Ma’el sliding on his knees, players and coaching staff alike held their heads in disbelief.

”Oh my god...! The first goal is here!”

”Fack.....a world-class goal!”

”Unbelievably effortless, in that position, it’s as if he’s been blessed by the gods, what a beautiful hit!”

The players tightly clenched their fists, their bodies trembling, trembling growing more intense with deeper understanding of what this goal means.

It’s imaginable that Ma’el will firmly secure the main role in Sheffield United, making his mark in the Championship.

By the season’s end, he might achieve more than 5 goals and more than 5 assists, creating a 10+ milestone.

Next season back at Arsenal, he will undoubtedly enter the first team and be valued by Wenger, progressively competing for a main role.

For him, truly anything is possible!

”Look, look!”

The head coach Hans sat at the front, full of pride: ”I always said, only you know yourself best, know your weaknesses, know what to strengthen, and how to train.

”Without countless days and nights of hard practice, Ma’el could never become today’s Ma’el; a goal in the Championship would be sheer fantasy.

”Gilbert too, I often speak with him; he told me about his progress after joining the team and training with Ma’el, improving rapidly!

”The best example is right before your eyes, hopefully you won’t waste time and learn from their strengths!”

Hans knows well that sudden enlightenment like Ma’el and someone like Gilbert with talent who later puts in effort to soar high are exceptions.

Yet, he still hopes his team’s players can maintain hope for the future, at least not losing the fighting spirit.

”How much is the goal bonus?” another little money-minded one asked out of curiosity, as there always seems to be intrigue with such matters.

”£2,500.”

Hans smiled at him: ”They also have a clause for a pay rise based on appearances, after scoring this goal, Ma’el should easily achieve a raise in the future.”

Reflecting on this, he recalled the pair of shoes he once lent to Ma’el.

Everything is happening so fast, from the youth wearing worn-out shoes to the protagonist on the Championship stage today, Ma’el’s journey took only a short time.

Wait..... at this rate, won’t those shoes truly become a collectible in the future?

Hans’s eyes fixated, keeping this matter in mind.

......

France, Aix.

”Goal...!!”

The long sound of French commentary rang from the television as uncle Clément was the first to stand up from the sofa, wide-eyed and raising his arms, ”Beautiful! Beautiful! The goal is in! The goal is in!!”

At this moment, others turned their heads slowly, gradually reacting.

”Is it Ma’el?”

Aunt raised her eyebrows, surprised, then got up and applauded heavily, ”This is the first time, let’s remember this day.”

She didn’t understand what the goal represented, but she knew her nephew was either a winger... or a forward, and scoring is the forward’s duty; her nephew accomplished his work well.

In her view, this was already quite good.

A few days ago, worrying about her nephew not playing seemed silly now, as the family celebrated again, this time even more enthusiastically than before.

”Eva!”

Clément excitedly picked up Eva, spun her around twice, laughingly said, ”Within a week or two, let’s go to the United Kingdom to watch your brother’s match, shall we?”

”To the United Kingdom?”

In Eva’s big eyes, excitement emerged as she clapped her little hands, ”Great! Great! My brother will take me to eat delicious United Kingdom food!”

”Always thinking about food.”

Aunt teased while looking at her husband, a bit worried, ”Second and third kids are still in school, going now will surely impact them, and also...”

Clearly, her main concern was not their schooling but something unsaid at the end.

”Ma’el is there alone, aside from club people, it’s always club people, life is too monotonous.”

Clément put down Eva, replying: ”He called yesterday, inviting us over, assuring us not to worry about money.”

”Isn’t it kind of improper....” Aunt felt embarrassed, speaking hesitantly.

”No need to fumble, the nephew’s invitation means we go enjoy, let’s go abroad.”

Clément shook his head, looked at Aunt, confidently said, ”You don’t know how much your nephew profits now, just one shot now might cover our round-trip expenses.”

Aunt rolled her eyes at him, as if to say, why are you boasting to me?