From Arsenal to the Ball God

The ball is in!!

One to zero!!

”Yeah.....!!” Norwich players raised their hands in celebration, seeing the hope of reaching 100 points in this round!

”Ah....!” Neil jumped up, punching the sky and roaring through gritted teeth, ”Beautiful! Beautiful!!”

He quickly walked back to the bench, asking the assistant coach to check the match status on the phone.

”Zero to zero, both sides bombarded 11 shots in the first half, no goals.” The assistant coach glanced at the phone, his expression changed a bit.

The joy on Neil’s face faded a little; it seemed like there really could be a match-fixing. He cursed angrily, ”These actors!”

”It’s okay.”

The assistant coach stood up, walked to his side, patting him on the back to comfort him, ”There’s still half a match left; there’s a good chance. If not, we’ll go to the playoffs; treat this game as getting into form.”

Neil refocused his attention on the field, walked back to the command area, and told the assistant coach, ”Inform me of any updates!”

...

Loftus Road Stadium, after a 15-minute rest, the game resumed in the second half.

Sheffield United delivered the ball from the center circle, followed by a long pass from Janu aimed at Bolodanovich’s head, but unfortunately, the latter failed to win the header, and the ball possession was taken by Queens Park Rangers.

”Fuerlin! Fuerlin!”

On the sidelines, Worlock, excited, gestured wildly to direct the field, ”Push! You just passed by there, why didn’t you push?!”

Fuerlin waved to the sidelines, implying that it was his mistake.

Worlock clasped his hands behind him, turned to look at the fans on the sidelines, seeing their eager expectations in their eyes.

Can’t lose!

Must win!

A step forward is heaven, a step back is hell!

Worlock turned his head, glanced at Garrispeed next to him, noticing the other sitting at the front of the coach’s bench, seemingly unwilling to stand on the sidelines.

”Helguson!”

Refocusing on the field, his hand immediately pulled out from behind, pointing to a spot, ”Stop the ball, why pass with one touch, the defending players are still three or four meters away from you!”

He shook his hand in slight disappointment, turned and walked towards the coach’s bench, briefly sitting down to sip some water before he couldn’t sit still anymore, standing up and returning to the command area.

Time passed by the minute and second, the pace of confrontation on the field did not slow down, seemingly intensifying.

With each passing minute, Worlock grew tenser; he didn’t even want to settle for a draw; he only wanted the championship.

”Ah!!”

From time to time, he rose to express his dissatisfaction to the referee and the fourth official, looking around to find his supporters, to apply pressure together.

”Good! Beautiful!” Sometimes clapping, using his most enthusiastic voice to encourage his players, ”Just play like that, no problem at all!”

”Fack!” Sometimes he spread his hands leaving, taking advantage of the gap to return to the bench, picking up his thermos for a big gulp of water, soothing his already hoarse throat.

Between the 70th and 75th minute, Worlock and Garrispeed respectively made substitutions, each using two changes.

He swapped out two midfielders, bringing in a forward and a midfielder, one to enhance attack, another as a position adjustment.

Garrispeed made two positional adjustments, subbing Bertrand and Gilbert off; they were already running out of steam.

As the match passed the 85-minute mark, Worlock finally saw Garrispeed unable to sit still, coming to the sidelines and stayed there without returning to the coach’s bench.

It was close to the end of the match.

The tense match made everyone feel pressed inside; the cheering was much reduced; most couldn’t make a sound anymore, only wishing to focus all their attention on the game.

...

6 minutes later, at Carrow Road Stadium.

”Beep! Beep! Beep——!”

Only one minute of stoppage time ended the match, Norwich ultimately won 1 to 0 at home against Cardiff City.

Score surpassing 100!

Just came a little late.

”How’s it going?”

Neil breathed a long sigh of relief at the sidelines, no longer in the mood to celebrate, he came to the coach’s seat, surrounding the assistant coach who was watching the live of the opponent’s match.

”3 minutes of stoppage time.”

Watching the match time enter the final 2 minutes, the assistant coach felt a chill in his heart, knowing the hope was slim... they needed to prepare for the playoffs quickly.

”Wait a bit more.” Neil at this moment wasn’t willing to give up, stood beside with clenched fists, eyes fixed on the screen.

The descending Norwich players also rushed to the locker room, took out their phones and returned to the field, gathering in circles, tensely waiting for the match to end there.

Norwich fans didn’t leave the field, each holding a phone, watching the match there.

This was more like a second venue for Sheffield United; everyone prayed devoutly to God, hoping Sheffield United could win.

”Grandpa!”

At the player’s tunnel, a middle-aged couple led a little girl out; the man in front said, ”She’s too noisy, she insisted on finding you, we told her to wait and she cried.”

Neil’s expression changed, came to the little girl’s side and held her in his arms, though the pressure increased, he squeezed out a smile, ”Why did you come down? Didn’t I tell you to wait upstairs?”

”Grandpa told me it’s a celebration today.”

The little girl’s eyes were red, seemingly tear-stained, leaning into Neil’s chest.

Neil instantly felt his heart melt, lifting the girl slightly on his toes to wander around the field, sighing, ”Wait here with Grandpa.”

”Okay.”

The girl looked up, curiously at the dense crowd waiting around.