God Of football

Chapter 119: First Copa Del Rey Match

In the post-match interview, Izan’s words were as composed as his play. ”This win is for the fans,” he said, glancing toward the Mestalla faithful.

”They never gave up on us, and we couldn’t let them down. Tonight, we showed what Valencia is all about.”

”They came for a show and I’m glad that we could give them a win at the very least”.

It was a night no one would forget. The match, the tension, and above all, the boy who had turned a looming defeat into a triumphant victory.

Izan had not just played; he had owned the stage, solidifying his place as the beating heart of Valencia’s future.

.......

As the Mestalla continued to echo with the chants of jubilant fans, the footballing world outside the stadium buzzed with discussions of Izan’s heroic performance. In the post-match analysis, the pundits wasted no time dissecting what had just unfolded.

”Izan isn’t just a prodigy; he’s a phenomenon,” began Jorge Martínez, a well-respected Spanish commentator.

Sitting in the studio, he replayed clips of Izan’s second-half dominance. ”Look at the composure here,” he said, freezing the screen on Izan’s dazzling run past three Cádiz defenders in the 82nd minute.

”He plays with the maturity of someone twice his age. Most players in this situation would panic or pass backwards, but Izan? He sees opportunities others don’t.”

Martínez then switched to a replay of the last-minute free kick. ”This isn’t luck,” he emphasized.

”It’s precision, practice, and pure talent. To place the ball like that under pressure, at just 15 years old—it’s unbelievable.”

Another pundit, former Valencia captain David Albelda, praised not just Izan’s technical ability but also his leadership. ”What struck me tonight wasn’t just the skill—it was his mentality,” Albelda said.

”When Valencia was 2-1 down, it was Izan who stepped up, not the experienced players. He took responsibility, demanded the ball, and rallied the team. He’s not just a talented kid; he’s become the heartbeat of this squad.”

Albelda also highlighted Izan’s connection with the fans. ”Did you see how he celebrated the equalizer? Or the way he gave his jersey to that young fan?

That’s more than football; it’s a bond. He understands what this club means to the people, and that’s rare in someone so young.” [at this point if Izan breathes, they are going to talk about it. Lol]

Former Cádiz defender and current analyst Raúl Prieto offered insight into what it was like to face a player like Izan.

”He’s a nightmare for defenders,” Prieto admitted. ”His movement off the ball is so intelligent, and when he’s on it, you don’t know what he’ll do next. We tried to contain him by closing spaces, doubling up on him, even fouling him—but nothing worked. He’s relentless.”

Prieto replayed the moment when two Cádiz defenders collided while trying to stop Izan’s run. ”This isn’t just about skill,” he said. ”It’s about confidence. He’s fearless, and that’s what makes him so dangerous.”

....

On an international panel, former England international Gary Lineker chimed in with glowing praise. ”We’re witnessing the rise of a global superstar,” Lineker said.

”Izan has everything—vision, technique, work ethic, and an incredible football IQ. You don’t dominate games like this at 15 unless you’re truly special.”

Lineker also commented on the growing attention Izan was receiving. ”Clubs across Europe will be watching this performance, but Valencia must hold onto him. Build the team around him, and he could lead them to glory.”

Not all commentary was purely celebratory. Veteran coach Juan Delgado offered a measured take.

”Izan is phenomenal, no doubt, but let’s not forget he’s still developing,” Delgado said. ”There were moments tonight where he held onto the ball too long or tried to do everything himself. These are things he’ll refine with time.”

Delgado also cautioned against the weight of expectation. ”The media, the fans—we all need to be careful. He’s 15. Let him grow without overwhelming him with comparisons to legends. If Valencia nurtures him properly, the sky’s the limit.”

Beyond the pundits, fan reaction was unanimous in its adoration. Social media was ablaze with clips of Izan’s free-kick, his dazzling runs, and his interaction with the young fan.

Hashtags like #IzanMagic and #ValenciaWonderkid trended within minutes of the final whistle.

One fan summed it up perfectly in a post-match interview outside the Mestalla: ”Tonight wasn’t just a match—it was the start of something unforgettable. Izan isn’t just a player; he’s our hope for the future.”

As the footballing world dissected and celebrated his performance, Izan had already shifted his focus.

In his own words during the post-match press conference, ”Tonight was special, but there’s still a lot to improve. This is just the beginning.”

And if this was the beginning, the world could only imagine what heights Izan would reach.

.....

Izan stepped out of his home into the cool embrace of dawn, the world still veiled in a faint haze that blurred the edges of reality.

The air was crisp, tinged with the earthy scent of dew settling on grass. Shadows of trees loomed larger in the mist, their forms ghostly and serene. The distant hum of the waking city was softened as if the fog had muffled its voice.

Looking at the daily task that he had been doing since he got the system, Izan with a mental flex, made it de-materialise.

He adjusted his running shoes, took a deep breath, and started down the quiet street, his strides steady and purposeful.

The rhythmic sound of his feet hitting the pavement echoed in the stillness. His breath formed faint clouds in the chilly air, each exhalation a visible reminder of his pace and determination.

The world around him seemed to be waking up with him. A few birds chirped, their calls breaking through the muffled quiet.

Streetlights cast pale, diffused glows, their beams softened by the mist, creating a surreal, dreamlike atmosphere.

Izan loved mornings like this. The solitude, the calm before the world roared to life, gave him time to reflect and focus.

His thoughts wandered to the goals he had set, the matches he dreamed of playing, and the promise of greatness that fueled his every move.

As he picked up his pace, the fog began to thin slightly, the horizon hinting at the rising sun. Each step felt like a step closer to his dreams, the hazy morning symbolic of the challenges he had to pierce through to reach clarity and success.

....

”Oh, you’re back,” Komi said as she closed the door of the fridge, sipping on some water. ”Yeah, it’s a bit colder than usual today”, Izan said as he took off his shoes.

”Is Hori still sleeping?” Izan asked as he climbed the stairs. ”What do you think” Komi said as she turned to the kitchen.

Opening the door of Hori, Izan smiled as he looked at his sleeping sister. Stepping into the shower, the water washed the fatigue he was feeling from the morning run away.

While drying himself, Izan saw a message from Sosa.

Taking his phone Izan clicked on the message.

Sosa: You gonna come tomorrow? I heard you weren’t included in the squad for the Copa del Rey match.

”I can’t come but I’ll watch from the house. Anyways, good luck, and remember that this is your chance to break into the main team,” Izan replied.

Sosa: don’t worry, I’ll perform well. Well, I gotta go, stay safe.

”You too,” Izan said as he typed.

Ruben Baraja had dropped him from the Copa del Rey together with a few main team players in preparation for their next match.

It was a blockbuster match for the first position in the league table. A match between first and second. A show at the Santiago Bernabeu.

This match wouldn’t have attracted much hype in the past but this time it was. Major media outlets had even started reporting on the match.

It was a chance for Valencia to overtake Real Madrid if they could pull one over the Madrid-based club or a chance for Real Madrid to go 4 points clear of the top of the table.

”Anyways, I hope he does well,” Izan said as he thought about Sosa. After he was done, Izan came down with his school bag and a jacket in hand.

It was a Wednesday, and unlike Sosa, who had applied to skip school that day, Izan had to go.

After eating some of the breakfast Komi made, Izan took his bike and rode to school.

As usual, Izan passed through the day without much trouble. Today’s lesson was difficult than usual but it wasn’t anything he couldn’t wrap his head around.

”The match starts at 4:30”, Izan said, looking at the time displayed on his phone screen. It was getting to 4.

After the bell rang, Izan took his bag and jacket before running out of the classroom. ”Why is he in such a rush” a student who was almost knocked down by Izan said.

”Maybe he’s meeting his girlfriend,” the student beside him said. ”Then she’s probably in another school since he’s rushing to go out” the previous student said, while letting go of the frame he had held to prevent himself self from falling.

”He lives life on easy mode. A while back, I searched his contract details with Valencia and Dawn; he gets a couple million annually, and that isn’t even a proper contract”.

”If you had some ability, you could also be in his position, but since you’re talentless, shut up and let’s go”.

....

Izan rode faster and faster while keeping caution for any vehicles around. After a while, he finally stepped into the confines of his home.

Seeing as he had a few minutes before the match began, he took a shower before coming back down.

After setting things up, he switched to the channel that was showing the match.

”Oh, they just started,” he said as he lay down the remote. This match would determine how far they would be going in the Copa del Rey tournament. Would they succumb to this 2nd division team, or would they prevail with their youngsters?

A/n: Chapter for the day. Have fun. The next matches arc is coming. Stay tuned.