From Arsenal to the Ball God

Chapter 280: Chapter 87: September Ends! Summary Time! Ma’el’s Goal! Pressure on Aguero and Rooney!

A reporter holding a microphone stood beside Wenger with a smile and said, ”Did you know? Just now, The English FA has named you the monthly best coach for this month.”

”We all know that the monthly best in the top leagues is a rare honor, as there are the world’s top coaches and the best players here.”

”Often times, it isn’t enough for a coach to do well or work earnestly during that period to earn this honor.”

”Yes.” Wenger answered with his eyebrows raised, the joy on his face heightened upon hearing the news, ”This year marks my 16th year in the United Kingdom, if I remember correctly, I...”

Seeing him hesitate, a reporter reminded him, ”Before this, you have received the monthly best 10 times, the last was in the 07 season.”

Wenger looked at the reporter with a hint of praise and nodded, ”That’s right, even though we had quite good performances around the turn of the millennium, I’ve only won 10 monthly bests in 16 years.”

”Not tasting the best for three years straight... it’s truly nostalgic, hahaha.”

Ma’el laughed as well from the side, for some time now, he could feel Wenger’s spirit gradually improving.

Whether it was on match days or training days, he was always full of energy, as if much younger.

”Hmm... are you all waiting for my acceptance speech? I don’t have much to say...”

Wenger said a few words, seeming touched by the scene, lowered his head, swallowed, paused for a bit, and turned to Ma’el, saying, ”I can only say, the team has had a great strength supplement this season, a few players have made us more competitive.”

”Is it Ma’el?” A reporter looked at Ma’el and asked.

”Certainly.” Wenger didn’t hide or hold back, he openly said the player’s name with a smile, ”Ma’el’s improvement to the attacking line’s fighting power is undeniable, his performance is astounding.”

”Oh...!” A commotion erupted at the scene, with many reporters clapping their hands, they were glad to see the deep bond between mentor and student.

This cheer and applause made both Ma’el and Wenger feel a bit embarrassed, sitting in place, their faces slightly flushed with faint smiles.

However, this ’embarrassment’ only lasted a moment, they soon openly acknowledged it.

”He scored 3 goals and 1 assist in this month’s Premier League, what an outstanding performance.”

Wenger patted Ma’el on the back, then turned his head to continue, ”Although it seems not as explosive as last month, that’s because of multiple fronts connecting, diverting attention.

”Including 2 goals and 2 assists in the Champions League, his record this month is still an impressive 5 goals and 3 assists.

”If a player can help the team create 8 goals in a month... then no one can deny, he must be the core player of the team.”

After these words were spoken, the reporters on site showed a few surprised expressions, this was Wenger’s first public acknowledgment in front of the media that Ma’el had become the core.

As with any place where there are people... even if everyone is in the same group striving for a common goal, there will be divisions of primary and secondary.

Fights over succession, battles for being the core, and intense conflict due to unequal status often erupt within a team.

No one overlooks this, everyone wants to rise, becoming the club’s favored child, first-pushed superstar.

Wenger saying Ma’el is a core player was certainly after thoughtful consideration and will surely trigger a series of chain reactions.

Then it’s up to Ma’el’s performance to win over the masses, and whether he can handle this position.

”Does Ma’el have any thoughts? I mean, regarding milestones like the monthly best,” a reporter looked at the somewhat awkward scene and directed the microphone at Ma’el.

”You haven’t told me yet, which means there’s none this month.”

With some regret in his heart, Ma’el adjusted his mindset and said, ”When I debuted in the Championship, I won the monthly best, winning 5 monthly best trophies in a single season.”

”I naturally hope to extend this state to the Premier League... but evidently, things didn’t go as I expected.”

”No matter, I’ll keep striving for it, competing with these top players is my honor, I wish to win 3 Premier League monthly best trophies by season’s end.”

”Three?” A reporter’s eyes showed surprise, sighing, ”Such a grand goal, how confident are you?”

”120%.” Ma’el smiled, half serious and half joking.

The reporters didn’t laugh but fell into a prolonged silence.

...

Elsewhere, at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, a match just concluded here.

Argentina star striker Aguero held the Premier League monthly best cylinder in his hands, his expression excitedly receiving interviews from the reporters.

”Someone said this award should go to Ma’el?” A reporter began to stir things up with questions.

Aguero raised an eyebrow, but eventually laughed and answered, ”Anyone is qualified to win this honor, he’s an excellent young player, surely will have a chance to win this award in the future.

”But this month... I think I rightly deserve this trophy, you keep saying ’someone said,’ who exactly said it?”

”I don’t think the players themselves think this way, he is a person worthy of respect.”

Seeing this tactic didn’t work, the reporters thought of something else, someone continued to ask, ”Will you continue competing for next month’s best?”

”Certainly will.” Aguero nodded, his expression very firm, ”No player doesn’t want to chase the best, if the day comes I stop, that means I’m about to retire.”

”Then...” The previous sentence was just a setup, and this sentence was the key the reporter wanted to ask: ”Do you think you can compete against Ma’el? We all know, he’s already scored 8 goals in the Premier League, tied with Rooney for second on the scorer list.”

”Yet you have only scored 6 goals this season, which doesn’t seem as efficient.”

”Haha...” Aguero looked at this reporter with a more disdainful look, realizing he fell into a trap, but by then there was no other solution, he could only say, ”I’m confident in myself, see you at the end of the month.”

...

At night, in a hotel in Manchester, Rooney sneaked in wearing a mask and a cap.

Soon after, a lady roughly in her mid-forties entered the hotel, heading straight to Rooney’s room.

After some passion, sitting by the window, Rooney drank a beer, entering a contemplative state, ”We need to meet less this season, a strong opponent has arrived in the secondary league.”

”Strong?” The lady smiled, extending a hand, sliding it over Rooney as she said, ”How strong? Aren’t you the most talented player in All England?”

”I am.”

Rooney took a sip of beer and continued, ”So to keep that title, I must focus more on the field, realizing my talent, I cannot indulge in other things anymore.”

”Hmm...” Suddenly he recoiled his body, moving the hand away.

”Tsk.” The lady pouted, annoyed, ”Why didn’t you say it earlier, saying it after it’s done? You always do this.”

”This time I’m serious.” Rooney’s expression was firm, and thinking of Ma’el, he said, ”He’s really strong.”

”Stronger than you?” The lady’s voice became enchanting again.

After the madness, Rooney had sobered up, looking at the older woman in front of him, ”He’s only 18, not everyone has this kind of fetish, wake up.”

...

ps: Just got home, today might still be 2 Chapters, starting tomorrow will guarantee 3 Chapters.