From Arsenal to the Ball God

When it was Gilbert’s turn, he was a bit more straightforward, ”I am also a Golden Boy candidate and have always been interested in this award.

”I must say, his current competitors are almost only Götze and Griezmann.

”Griezmann’s statistics aren’t very prominent, it’s hard for him to compete with Ma’el for this... As for Götze, he’s had a bit of a burst recently, with 7 goals and 5 assists in the league this season.

”But... a gap of 10 combined goals, isn’t it? A good performance in a match doesn’t mean everything.

”I’ve already tried my best to compare Ma’el’s weaknesses with others’ strengths, but my aim is to show you that even his weakest points are much stronger than others.

”If you were to count Ma’el’s total club goals this season, he’s already at 22 goals and 11 assists, which seems enough to qualify him as a January award candidate.

”Haha... that award, I think Ma’el has a chance next year, next year is a tournament year.”

And on December 2nd, after the 15th round of the Bundesliga, Dortmund’s head coach Klopp and Götze also made their final bid.

”It’s just a draw, it doesn’t affect the team, nor will it affect the players.”

At the press conference, Klopp’s expression was slightly displeased, holding back his dissatisfaction, ”I support Götze to win the Golden Boy Award, sometimes team honors are also very important, he helped us win the Bundesliga championship last year.”

”But on the other hand, Ma’el’s core role helped Sheffield United win the championship with a perfect season, creating many historical moments... he’s not lacking in that aspect either,” a journalist reminded with raised eyebrows.

”Haha...” Klopp laughed dryly twice without saying anything, seemingly hinting at the different weight of the two leagues, and actually having nothing to say.

But there’s no choice, Götze is a player he really likes, and he had to attend this press conference today.

”I think I also have a chance.”

Before the press conference ended, Götze said somewhat aggrievedly, a bit pitifully.

Throughout the press conference, the pro-English and pro-Mendes media kept pressuring him, making him feel utterly helpless.

In addition, Ma’el’s performance and form since the start of the season seemed flawless in every aspect... sometimes making him lose all courage to compete against him.

However, he promised the German fans this Golden Boy Award at the end of last season.

If he fails to get it now, the disappointment won’t be just his own, those expectations carried upon him will also be shattered.

”Phew... hiss...!”

After the press conference ended, Götze locked himself in the cramped equipment room, occasionally letting out a few sobs.

Klopp, Lewandowski, Reus, and others stood outside the door, their expressions very stern, but not daring to make any sound.

...

London, England, at a mansion.

This noon, Ma’el and Jose went to the lawn in front of the villa, preparing to add fancy dribbling and headings into the training routine.

Since the second month of coming to London, with a little money in hand, Ma’el has been working on maintaining and nurturing the lawn at the entrance, aiming to make it reach the level of a professional natural grass pitch.

Though it wasn’t very big here, with some proper rectification, making a football pitch about the size of a five-a-side isn’t hard.

After a few months of effort, the turf could finally be used, allowing Ma’el to conduct a bit of technical training without needing to drive to the Korni Base, he could practice right at his doorstep.

This is convenient, greatly reducing travel time, and increasing additional training time.

Moreover, training at the doorstep means he can go inside to rest and replenish energy whenever he’s tired, which also boosts training enthusiasm.

”That’s pretty nice.”

Arriving at the training ground, Jose glanced at the lawn and sighed, then said, ”Why suddenly train headers and fancy skills?”

”For comprehensiveness.” Ma’el gave a simple reply. After spending so much time together, these coaches were already used to this side of him.

”Fancy footwork is my forte.”

Jose picked up a football, starting with a few fancy juggling moves, and also did a few high-frequency fancy dribbling moves, ”Or rather, it’s a strength of most Spanish technical coaches.

”In usual days when you’re playing, I often fiddle with the ball in the room, always maintaining footwork skills.

”But for headings... I know some training methods and techniques. I’m not great at demos, I can’t jump high.”

”That’s okay.” Ma’el nodded, just knowing the techniques and methods will do, he can follow his rhythm and slowly figure it out, anyway, the Skill Level panel will give him feedback.

As long as he practices for three or four days, he can find the method that improves the fastest.

”Let’s start then.”

Jose held the ball, explaining, ”Any kind of fancy move starts from fancy juggling, atw, akka, etc., similar basics are must-practice items.

”With your current ball sense, doing these movements is very simple, but fancy moves require stability, require success rate.

”And you need to gradually improve the success rate based on these foundations.”

Jose seemed to have had some urban football experience, stating this while demonstrating the moves, even lying on the ground and twirling the ball a few times with his sole.

”Huh?”

Ma’el looked at his appearance, sensing something amiss, ”I won’t have to practice those top freestyle football tricks like bloggers, right?”

”No, of course not.” Jose stood up laughing, teasingly saying, ”I was just joking, your training requirement is fancy dribbling, ensuring nimble legs and feet, practicing some cool and unexpected abilities will do.

”Of course, I can’t say for sure that by training you won’t eventually have that ability... everyone knows that you master things quickly.”