"This kid's got a foot!"
Evans, the yellow team's center forward who had just completed the assist, was the first to arrive, smiling and giving Maël a high-five. "Good shot. Didn't expect the team to get a long-range shooter this summer window."
"Yeah, it adds another dimension to the team's attack."
Midfielder Janu Hans arrived next, still with the usual high-five and hug, laughing heartily. "We'll be counting on you for the tough games!"
Most people don't have inherent malice towards strangers. In many cases, they will actively show a friendly side, especially when they feel you have the ability.
"Thanks."
Maël thanked him with a smile, not being modest, and even deliberately pretending to be calm, as if he wasn't surprised by the goal.
When you come to a new environment and start competing and socializing again, you must generously show your strengths and let others think you are strong.
Only in this way can you get equal treatment and respect in the future.
After dealing with the people who came to celebrate, Maël turned and walked towards his own half. When he met Gilbert face to face, he revealed a relieved expression, trying not to laugh.
There was the joy of scoring a goal in an EFL Championship-level training match, and the surprise and delight of getting a good opportunity at the start and seizing it!
It also gave him some confidence in his future.
"Next, I need to show all my strengths as much as possible."
Maël had an idea in his mind. Now that he had a good start at a new club, he would strive to go to the next level.
First impressions are very important, and he had to work hard to imprint all his advantages firmly in the minds of the coaching staff.
Whether it was the current head coach, Kevin, or Gareth Speed, who Joelson said was about to take over.
Of course, he wasn't overly confident either.
Apart from Long Shot, the other skills were only at level 2 for the time being, which was definitely not an advantage in front of EFL Championship players.
For example, Strength and Step-overs, which are often used in one-on-one situations, if he used them casually, he would often fail, which would go against his goal.
But... Cross was definitely usable.
This ability was linked to the performance of his teammates.
As long as he found plenty of opportunities to pass the ball into the penalty area, even if it wasn't very accurate, if he passed it with reasonable quality, his teammates might accidentally head it in.
If he could get another assist and put up a stat line of 1 goal and 1 assist.
Then today's training match would be perfect for him!
"Maël, from Arsenal U17 academy."
Sheffield United coach Kevin flipped through Maël's profile on the sidelines. "No data in the Youth Team League. Chief scout Joelson brought him back after watching a friendly match."
He looked up at Maël, who had just scored a goal, and interest rose in his eyes. "A very interesting young man."
Gareth Speed nodded slightly, with a look of relief on his face. "When Joelson told me about his situation, I was actually a little hesitant, but in the end, I trusted his vision.
"Now it seems that the Cannon talent he wrote in his scouting report is true, and it's obvious."
Kevin pursed his lips in agreement, and admiration welled up in his heart. "He hasn't even turned 17 yet. Even if he doesn't make it this year, his future is bright. It's a pity we only have a one-year loan period."
Seeming to know what he was going to say, Gareth Speed lowered his head, not wanting to make eye contact with him.
Sure enough, Kevin shook his head with a slight sigh. "It's also a pity that I'm about to leave this team."
This sentence plunged all the coaching staff into silence, and the cold situation lasted for more than ten seconds before someone broke it.
"The board should still look at your performance next season."
One of the assistant coaches said with a complex expression, "If you can hold on, they may not terminate your contract."
"Don't be silly."
Kevin still shook his head, not holding out much hope. "The fans don't know, but how can we coaches not know? This group of people can't play in the EFL Championship at all.
"Besides Robert, Lotton, Evans, and Janu Hans, who else has EFL Championship level? Professional leagues are cruel and fierce competitions. Many times, you can't pin your hopes on the name. Don't even mention loaning youth players from Everton and Arsenal, what if you loan youth players from Real Madrid?"
He wanted to say something more, but a figure walked in at the entrance of the training ground.
It was Joelson. He had been assigned to sort out documents today and came over as soon as he was done.
"How's it going?"
Joelson watched the rapidly moving players, observing Maël and Gilbert's condition, looking slightly nervous.
"Yellow team, one to zero."
Gareth Speed took over the conversation, giving him a satisfactory answer: "Maël scored with a Long Shot."
"Really?"
A look of joy quickly rose in Joelson's eyes, and he clapped his hands heavily: "Fantastic!"
"Bang!"
On the field, Maël found an opportunity on the left wing, adjusted the ball to his right foot, and sent in a Cross.
The quality was barely adequate, and after flying to the center of the penalty area, it was cleared out of the area by a red team defender who jumped up and headed it away, not posing much of a threat.
This was actually enough, as long as he showed his ability to create chances with Crosses.
Maël calmly ran back, moving quickly on the left wing, constantly interspersing in the blind spots of the opponent's side midfielder.
Even though most of the time his teammates wouldn't pass the ball to him, he still ran forward whenever he had the chance, sparing no effort.
What the proficiency panel brought him was not just those skills, but also the habit of focus and going all out!
He couldn't temporarily break through and dribble past the opponent's side midfielder, so he could only create Cross opportunities for himself by constantly interspersing and harassing.
This was an EFL Championship team, one of the best dozens of teams in England.
Maël had to take it seriously and give it his all.
In this way, he paid incredibly close attention to the movements of the opponent's side midfielder and the movement of the ball, constantly adjusting his position to create space to receive the ball.
[Skill: Observation lv1]
[Proficiency: (21/300)]
[Effect: You are starting to try to use your brain to read the game and observe the situation on the field, but due to a lack of game experience and a lack of video analysis experience, you are still in the initial stage.]
Maël, who was running, was slightly stunned, then returned to normal. Another new skill had awakened, and it was still a very special mental skill.
"Initial proficiency of 300, the same as physical skills."
A few glimmers of excitement flashed in his eyes. The ability to observe, or rather, read the game, could greatly improve a person's performance in the game.
The famous master-level players in history were not only peak artists in a certain skill, but also experts who had thoroughly understood the game of football.
Moreover, this ability might not require deliberate practice like technical and physical skills.
As long as he was in a fast-paced game, he could train it all the time.
It was equivalent to automatically grinding proficiency.
"Looking at the introduction of the effect, maybe analyzing videotapes can also improve it."
Maël paid more attention to this ability. He immediately planned that when he was tired from training other skills on weekdays, he could watch more game videos at home in the evening to learn from other football masters' understanding of the game.
Withdrawing his thoughts, he refocused his attention on the field.
It just so happened that the opponent's forward players played a wonderful two-on-two cooperation on the wing, using smooth continuous one-touch passes to break through their own defense and complete a Cross.
"Bang!!"
A figure rushed into the penalty area from outside the penalty area line, leaping high and heading the ball.
"Pa!" The team's main goalkeeper, Robert, subconsciously punched out, smashing the ball back into the small penalty area.
But the red team's striker didn't miss the chance to shoot, poking the football into the net with his toe, scoring the equalizing goal.
One to one!
The two sides returned to the same starting line.
Maël smiled, not because he didn't have a sense of collective honor.
It was just that the one who completed the key header was Gilbert.
It was conceivable that this kid's header would also leave a good impression on the coaching staff.
Could it be that Gilbert trains with him every day and has really developed his ability to seize opportunities?
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