From Arsenal to the Ball God

Chapter 62: Chapter 1: Speed Level 3

November 6, before the home game against Ipswich.

Ma’el and Garrispeed were invited to the interview area to receive their monthly awards, which came as no surprise to anyone.

As for Ma’el, if a player contributes to 7 goals in a single month and cannot win the Player of the Month award, he’s likely competing against the likes of Messi and Ronaldo in La Liga.

He was born in the wrong era, bumping into two era-defining players.

As for Garrispeed’s Manager of the Month, that too was almost a foregone conclusion.

Thanks to the players’ hot form, Sheffield United achieved an unbeaten record of 4 wins and 1 draw in 5 league matches last month, which is championship contender quality.

Though there were hiccups in between, they managed to hold on and achieved perfect results.

”Looking back now.....”

Garrispeed, holding the commemorative cup and smiling, reflected: ”Last month felt like a dream. The team suddenly woke up from slumber, performing above their capability.

”I just tried my best to do what I was supposed to do, and I got this honor, I am truly flattered.”

Ma’el stood beside him and could understand Garrispeed’s feelings. After all, this was his first achievement in his coaching career.

Transitioning from player to coach is not easy.

With Garrispeed’s mental state seemingly always problematic, constantly under high pressure, life gives him little positive feedback.

Achieving this might bring him some happiness and help him steadfastly walk the path ahead.

”Since Ma’el is also here, I have to ask Mr. Speed.”

A reporter picked up the microphone and jokingly asked, ”If someone says your achievement was earned while relaxing and that it was Ma’el who played it out, would you be angry or dissatisfied?”

Garrispeed raised his eyebrows and shook his head, following his words: ”I don’t think I would. Having such players is a blessing for any coach.”

He turned his head to look at Ma’el and smiled: ”I would even greedily hope that Ma’el can achieve more for me. Isn’t earning awards just by relaxing what many people pursue most?”

”Hahaha.....” His joke brought a wave of joy to the scene, and the interview gradually became more interesting.

”Do you have anything you want to say to Ma’el?” The reporter handed the microphone back to Garrispeed.

”Of course.”

Garrispeed nodded and then pretended to be serious, stretching his arms as if warming up, ”Don’t get too cocky. If you feel there’s no opponent in the Championship, I’ll come out of retirement at any moment.

”Don’t forget, I am a registered player for the team and can play anytime.

”If your form dips, I’ll immediately warm up on the sidelines and put myself on to compete with you.”

He flexed his muscles, wanting to show that he’s still vigorous despite his age.

”Haha.....” This time it was Ma’el who laughed first, it was indeed the head coach warming up; the sight would surely be hilarious.

This interview eventually ended in laughter and joy, with the two taking a commemorative photo and heading to the locker room.

So far, Ma’el has already won 2 Championship Player of the Month awards and 4 Man of the Match awards, reaping great rewards since coming to this city.

...

Half an hour later, the 15th round of the Championship kicked off at Bramall Lane Stadium.

Sheffield United players, united and determined, were eagerly anticipating an opening win for November after experiencing a dream-like October.

”The offensive continues! They are eager to take the lead from the start. Such a strong desire to win greatly enhances a team’s fighting strength; of course, it might also make the players lose composure.

”Here comes Evans! He shoots into the far corner of the goal, it’s in!!

”One to zero! Luton’s through ball pierced Ipswich’s defense, Evans got a semi one-on-one opportunity and seized it in one shot!”

”.....”

”Ipswich’s full-back McCarthy seems to be struggling with Ma’el’s competitive intensity, he looks bitter and complains to the center-backs, this player from Northern Ireland isn’t great at competing physically.

”Ma’el is playing very steadily today, he keeps using his advantage against the opponent’s weakness!

”This is a clever way of playing, his football intelligence, and overall qualities are improving. In the past half season, we’ve witnessed his growth.”

”.....”

”Sheffield United gets a free-kick on the right side, Ma’el and Janu are standing at the spot, who will take this shot?

”Montgomery seems unable to hold on, Speed replaced him with Quinn, Quinn runs to the central area.... the referee whistles, Janu charges at the spot, but it’s a feint!

”It’s still Ma’el taking the shot, let’s see the quality! Flows into the box, header attack on goal! It’s in!! Two to zero!

”Who was it? It’s Quinn! The lucky kid, just came on and got a goal from Ma’el’s assist!”

”.....”

After scoring, Quinn jumped onto the advertising board at the sidelines, raised his fists to celebrate with fans, then turned and jumped down, searching for Ma’el.

”Great ball!”

He expressed his respect for Ma’el in the simplest way, feeling it wasn’t enough he added, ”You’re destined to fly high and far, so before that help us older guys jump a bit higher too.”

Ma’el didn’t know how to respond, so he hugged him, using actions instead of words.

”Click click!” Photographers quickly captured the moment from the sidelines, they snapped shots of Ma’el’s smiling face, a common expression after contributing.

This photo was placed in many post-match reports, serving as the cover photo for Sheffield United’s game.

”Two to zero victory over Ipswich! Garrispeed’s Sheffield United achieves 3 consecutive wins, climbing to 3rd in the standings!” - Sheffield Evening Paper

...

November 11, the entire Sheffield United team headed to Leicester City for the away game.

In the player tunnel, Ma’el took a close look for members of the later Blue Fox miracle, only noticing one of their own academy graduate Andy King.

Noticing that he was being watched, Andy King quickly turned his head back and nodded awkwardly.

Ma’el also signaled to him. At this time, Andy King was only in his early 20s, and perhaps he couldn’t have imagined what achievements he would accomplish in the future?

However, the butterfly effect he instigated—who knows if it will cause significant changes in some events?

It probably will. This can be seen from Gilbert, whose appearance altered the career path of this youth academy captain.

Without thinking much, Ma’el led the mascot onto the field.

As he walked towards his half, he heard Andy King shouting beside him: ”I envy your ability and talent. Keep it up.”

”You too, keep it up.”

Ma’el waved at him. In the tense and heated arena, it’s quite normal for such mutual appreciation to occur.

In that year, they were still young, full of desire for the future, struggling for their careers, dreaming of waking up to overnight success.

...

”Andy King! Oh oh.....! He used a long shot to break open Sheffield United’s goal, the home fans are boiling over, against the red-hot form of Sheffield United, who would have thought they would score first!

”The young man from Wales has a bright future just like Ma’el. So far this season, he has scored 7 goals!”

”.....”

”Ma’el dribbles laterally, his lower body is stable, feints and escapes! It’s dangerous!!

”A dipping shot towards the far corner!! The ball is in! Ma’el rarely scores in the penalty area, and it seems like his shooting skills have improved again!

”One to one! This goal is very crucial; it happened just before the end of the first half.”

”.....”

”Gallagher! Scores with a header!! He tore off his jersey, taking a yellow card to celebrate this wonderful goal!

”This is his fourth goal of the season. Sheffield United is in trouble. With only ten minutes left, maintaining their winning streak is extremely difficult.”

”.....”

”Ma’el passed Davis, reached the baseline, and is preparing to cut into the box!

”Gilbert at the far post is raising his hand for the ball. The Leicester City players haven’t noticed him entering the penalty area. Passing there would be a threat!

”A curved cross! Leicester City didn’t intercept it, Gilbert is diving in for the header!!

”The ball is in! In the last minute of stoppage time, Sheffield United leveled the score! Celebrate to your heart’s content! No time to chase a win, getting a point away is also good!”

”Gilbert scores his third goal of the season, while Ma’el has achieved an incredible feat of ten assists!”

”.....”

In the footage, Gilbert jumps high and lands on Ma’el’s back, waving his right arm excitedly towards the fans in the stands.

It’s reminiscent of the scene where Ronaldinho carried Messi, but their situation is certainly different from Ronaldinho and Messi; they are both young, without much of a legacy.

What they have is the excitement of scoring a last-minute goal.

”Click click!” The cameras on the sidelines kept flashing, capturing from many angles the celebration of the two, which has become the cover for many Championship match reports.

”Scoring together! Arsenal’s little duo earned a point for Sheffield, with Ma’el already achieving 10 assists this season, still firmly atop the assists leaderboard!” — Editor of the London Football Paper

...

Just two days after this match, Sheffield United faced another away game against Millwall.

Two consecutive away games, coupled with such a hellish schedule, left the players exhausted, extremely fatigued, and even revealing injury risks.

Garrispeed gave it a serious thought and decided to rest six players, bringing back substitutes who had been out of sight, making a large rotation.

Ma’el was among those rested, marking his second rest of the season.

Not surprisingly, he was once again soaking in the field and gym, sensibly planning his training intensity and time according to his physical condition.

On November 13th, he watched the away game with Gilbert at home.

The substitute lineup performed well, clinging tightly to Millwall, giving the opponents few opportunities, while also creating no real chances for goals.

In the end, the game ended in a goalless draw, a result that could be accepted.

On the 15th, after completing a set of muscle response training, Ma’el’s speed finally received a huge boost!

His legs and hips felt a strange sensation, like burning flames or being in an ice cave, indescribable, yet it stopped after more than ten seconds.

[Skills: Burst Level 3]

[Skill Level: (1/2000)]

[Utility: As the speed of muscle contraction gradually increases, you start to chase the response speed and explosive sprint ability as muscles transition from static to dynamic, with significant improvement in speed over the first 30 meters!]

Another physical attribute has broken through to Level 3!

After this qualitative change, Ma’el exhaled excitedly, put on his cleats, and stepped onto the field to run wild!

”Thump thump thump!”

Feeling the studs continuously embed into the soil, then be forcefully picked up as he took strides forward at high speed, Ma’el thoroughly enjoyed the moment, feeling his spirits lifted to the utmost; he had never felt his body so light.

”Huff.... huff!”

Everything around sped by, the breeze on his face felt comfortable. He adjusted his breathing, and after a long run, lay on the grass to rest.

This improvement, breaking through the body’s original limits, indeed provided him with great satisfaction.

More importantly, Ma’el clearly knew how the speed ability at Level 3 would transform him into a kind of player on the flank.