August 15th, post-match recovery training day.
"Here it comes!"
"Careful... hahaha!"
In the morning, rare laughter appeared on the training ground.
The Sheffield United players, in good spirits after completing their first victory of the season, playfully engaged in some keep-away training and games.
After training, Maël stayed behind, ready to start another extra training session.
His thighs and body were still slightly sore, the result of yesterday's high-intensity match and the resulting Muscle Fatigue.
However, it wasn't a major issue. The next round of the league was still early, and he could train the low-intensity 'Step-Over Dribbling' for a couple of days, waiting for his body to recover before training Strength.
"Check the skill proficiency of the two main training skills."
He brought up the proficiency panel, glanced at it, and found that the concentrated training had a good effect.
[Skill: Muscle lv2]
[Proficiency: (731/800)]
[Skill: Step-Over Dribbling lv1]
[Proficiency: 89/100]
"Step-Over Dribbling can break through to lv2 today, and if I rush Strength for the next few days, there's a chance it can reach lv3 before the next round starts."
Maël's expression was relaxed. Every time he looked at the proficiency panel, it gave him a great sense of accomplishment and even stronger motivation.
There are still seven days until the next game, so let's step up the training!
Once Step-Over Dribbling reaches lv2, it can be used, and might occasionally produce a surprising effect.
Otherwise, constantly using Bicycle Kick is too monotonous. Once the opponent is familiar with the rhythm of the footwork, it will definitely be easier to defend.
As for Strength lv3, this can be regarded as the biggest improvement since he activated the panel.
Body and mental skills, as the initial proficiency is higher than other types of skills, represent more effort, and also represent greater returns! A tough physique is enough to weaken his shortcomings in many aspects, raising his floor on the field, and also implicitly raising his ceiling.
After experiencing the baptism of an EFL Championship game, Maël had a deeper understanding of the level of EFL Championship players.
He was very clear that when he had Strength lv3, he would definitely be considered a tough player in the EFL Championship.
Even if not top-notch, he would definitely be well-known—"Sheffield United has a very strong young winger, on loan from Arsenal."
"Pa pa pa"
After setting up the marker poles and cones, Maël began to train with the ball. The outside of his foot constantly touched the ball, and his body constantly slid from side to side, laying a solid foundation for the subsequent upgrade.
Grinding proficiency is not just about the final moment of significant improvement; the daily accumulation is equally important.
Based on quantitative change, there will be a final qualitative change!
Time passed by, and sweat gradually made the jersey stick to his body. Fatigue struck, as if superimposed and even multiplied by yesterday's fatigue.
His brain also took the opportunity to 'persuade' him to surrender.
You just finished the game yesterday and got 2 assists... You can enjoy the glamorous life of a star, it doesn't matter if you take a day off.
"No, continue!"
Maël shook his head, shook off the sweat, dispelled the distracting thoughts, and strengthened his will.
It's not easy to form a habit, but it's easy to give up. As long as he compromises now, there will be more and more compromises in the future.
That's definitely not what he wants.
Think about those magnificent and vast stadiums, those fans who have prepared flowers and applause for you, and then continue to work hard behind the scenes to improve yourself!
More than two hours passed, and he didn't end the training until he had exhausted all his strength, then he came to the sidelines to stretch.
[Skill: Step-Over Feint lv2]
[Proficiency: (7/300)]
[Effect: Your Step-Over Dribbling is gradually developing a certain deceptive quality. Occasionally, you can trick your opponent into losing their balance and complete a breakthrough, but you are still far from true mastery. You yearn to level up again.]
Dribbling skills still increase speed very quickly at the initial stage.
Wait for Strength lv3, then go all out to upgrade this skill to lv3. It shouldn't be difficult to achieve before the end of the month! "Let's take another look at Observation."
Maël remembered something and brought up the panel again, glancing at the proficiency of his Observation skill.
[Skill: Observation lv1]
[Proficiency: (89/300)]
Before yesterday's match, through his usual accumulation from watching videotapes, his Observation proficiency should have been around fifty points.
Unexpectedly, one EFL Championship league match directly increased it by about thirty points.
It seems that the higher the level of the match, the greater the improvement to the Observation skill!
After stretching, Maël returned the soccer ball to the equipment room and went to the gym to find Gilbert, who had gone to do extra Strength training.
Not for any other reason, mainly because Gilbert still owed him a meal, the best kind.
...
At night, Sheffield city center was bustling and noisy.
Maël and Gilbert chatted and laughed all the way, entering a high-end barbecue restaurant, and even called Joelson.
They had originally planned to call Gareth Speed as well, but this suggestion was rejected by Joelson.
It seemed a bit inappropriate for players to have dinner alone with the head coach during the season, especially barbecue. Gareth Speed might find it awkward.
"I've been following your training every day, and I've also developed my own improvement plan and theory, which has now become a habit."
As soon as he sat down, Gilbert looked around and smiled, seemingly extremely happy to be out, "But what I like most is when the two of us go out to stroll and relax. The everyday atmosphere of life fascinates me."
Maël felt the same way, nodding, "That's because we train too much and it's too boring. If we went out to play every day, we probably wouldn't be so fascinated."
"The feeling does come from comparison."
Gilbert agreed, pursing his lips and putting on a bitter face, "But like you said, if you want to shine in public, you have to endure the pain."
"Did I say that?"
Maël had forgotten. Maybe he was just talking nonsense when his brain was muddled from training, although it was a true thought.
As the two waited for Joelson to arrive, they soon noticed that many tables in the restaurant with more male customers were frequently glancing over at them, sometimes even pointing secretly, then turning back to talk in low voices.
"It's them, no doubt, those two who had an amazing debut yesterday."
"Only seventeen years old, from Arsenal. I heard they're the two kids Wenger is most optimistic about."
"I heard one is the new Fabregas, and the other is the new Henry?"
"Really? Don't spread rumors."
"It's true! Mr. Wenger told my friend personally that day, and my friend told me. He's also a Sheffield United fan."
Listening to everyone's increasingly outrageous claims, Maël felt the harm of spreading rumors for the first time. It was indeed getting more and more absurd.
However, after he and Gilbert exchanged a glance, they both saw a hint of enjoyment in each other's eyes. They also subconsciously adopted a more dignified posture and tone.
Gilbert picked up the menu, pretending to adjust a non-existent bow tie, and raised his head seriously, "I think we should order some beef and fish to ensure sufficient protein intake."
Maël was still trying to hold back his laughter when he saw a figure walking over, looking at Gilbert with an extremely difficult-to-understand expression.
It was Joelson who had arrived.
He walked closer, frowning and blinking, very puzzled, feeling like the two in front of him had some kind of quirk, "Do you usually talk like this in private?"
"Hahaha," Maël laughed a few times, leaning back so far he almost fell over.
Gilbert's face turned red instantly, and he put down the menu, feeling awkward.
The three then ordered food and got Joelson a bottle of foreign wine, sitting at the table and feasting, warming up the atmosphere of the dinner.
"Let us all ingest protein together."
Joelson picked up a lamb leg, as if he wanted to carry this way of speaking through to the end, "It must be sufficient."
Maël tore and chewed while laughing, while Gilbert felt that any food was difficult to swallow, so he simply turned his head and drank juice.
"Alright."
Joelson took a few bites, picked up his glass filled with ice, and said with a smile, "I still have to thank you two. The victory on the weekend was crucial; it was a morale-boosting battle.
"Your contributions go without saying. One of you contributed two assists, and the other contributed one goal. Together, you scored two goals and earned us this meal today."
Maël and Gilbert didn't drink alcohol. They raised their juice glasses and clinked them together, exchanging polite words.
"It's what we should do."
"Mr. Joelson, you don't have to be so formal."
Joelson shook his head and happily picked up the lamb leg again. "Of course, more importantly, there's all this protein. It's the crystallization of your contributions on the field."
"Haha..." This time, all three of them laughed heartily, even Gilbert put aside his reserve and joined in the joyful atmosphere.
After a satisfying meal, the three of them talked about recent interesting events and feelings, sometimes laughing it off, sometimes sighing together.
These dreamlike recent days, in a few conversations under relaxed circumstances, truly landed on them and became the past.
Now, they had to look forward.
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