7:10 PM, August 14th, in Aix, southern France.
Twenty minutes remained until Cardiff City's home game against Sheffield United.
In an old residential building, a family of five prepared chilled beer, a generous spread of snacks, and waited with anticipation.
"How long until it starts?"
A middle-aged woman busily served dishes, a hint of fatigue on her face, but it didn't diminish her radiant spirit. "I heard at the supermarket that being able to play in the EFL Championship at 17 is considered genius."
"Genius?"
The middle-aged man on the sofa beamed, humming with pride. "Starting in his first professional league game, and as a starter, is far beyond what 'genius' can describe. Our nephew is a prodigy!"
"Clermont! Clermont!"
The youngest, Ava, ran out of her room, calling her father's name, both aggrieved and anxious, her eyes red as she softly complained, "Two slices of the pizza that brother gave me were eaten by sister!"
"Call me Dad."
Clermont looked stern, but then his expression softened as he picked her up and placed her on his lap. "That pizza was too big for you to finish alone."
"Then why didn't she ask brother to buy her one instead of eating mine?" Ava asked innocently, wiping away tears with one hand.
The eldest and second child walked out from inside together, the former rolling her eyes slightly. "It was just two slices. I'll buy you a new one another day."
The family bickered, their voices noisy, yet adding a lively atmosphere to the small house. It wasn't bad; that's how big families were.
"Maël really earns 2,500 pounds a week now?"
The eldest daughter sat on the sofa, the pizza reminding her of the 3,000 pounds Maël had sent back home recently. "Isn't that more than you and Mom earn combined?"
"We're just ordinary people."
Clermont laughed. He didn't care about his own pride at this moment, only knowing to praise his nephew. "After Maël plays today, he'll be considered a minor star. That 2,500-pound weekly wage will increase."
He glanced at his wife, his eyes showing the relief that he had insisted on Maël playing football, but also regret and lingering fear.
They almost stifled their nephew's talent.
His wife turned her head away, saying nothing. Time had passed, and she had long forgotten her previous hesitations and struggles.
"Brother! Brother!"
Suddenly, the youngest daughter, Ava, widened her eyes and pointed at the TV, clapping and jumping. "Look, brother's on!"
The whole family looked towards the screen and immediately saw a close-up of Maël's face. He looked very serious, seemingly in the player tunnel.
"Maël! A product of Arsenal's youth academy! Today is destined to be a day he'll remember! Kevin has given this young player enough trust in this match, making him one of the few players to start in their debut!" The commentator's voice rang out, drawing them into the exciting and tense atmosphere of the match.
It had to be said, it was an extremely profound feeling.
Someone who was once unremarkable and even somewhat taciturn was now seen on TV, his identity having undergone a major transformation.
"Yay!" Ava opened her mouth wide, cheering and shouting.
The others didn't want to show their emotions too unrestrainedly, but judging from their bodies occasionally trembling with excitement, their emotions were the same as Ava's.
...
Colney Training Base, Arsenal U17 dormitory.
Accompanied by the sound of several doors opening at once, everyone who had received the news rushed out almost immediately, hurrying towards the youth team meeting room.
"Don't lie around in the dorm! He's out!"
"EFL Championship second round, our former teammate! Maël has been given the opportunity to start!"
"Hurry to the meeting room! Coach Hans is waiting for us there!"
Some of the more thoughtful ones hadn't forgotten to share the joy with their teammates, knocking on the doors of those who hadn't noticed the messages on their phones. "No joke, check if you have a message from Coach Hans on your phones."
There was another series of noises, like many people jumping off their beds in their rooms, frantically putting on their shoes.
Soon, more than a dozen people ran out of the dormitory building together, rushing towards the youth team meeting room, as if in a 100-meter race.
On the way, some people didn't forget to express their shock to the group. "I really didn't expect them to actually get a chance."
"Yeah, and who would have thought that Maël would be the first to get a start?"
"Let's go! We're going to be late, the game starts at 7:30!"
"Did Gilbert make the roster?"
"He did, he did, why worry so much? If you go late, you won't even see Maël's appearance!"
Some people also walked slowly, filled with mixed emotions, their eyes filled with envy, jealousy, or disbelief, just like before.
Maël's speed of ascent had exceeded their understanding time and time again, leaving them in a constant state of disconnect, always feeling like he was still that trial player they remembered.
If he had risen slower, giving these people a chance to react and accept, they wouldn't be like this all the time.
Before long, the first people to arrive at the meeting room saw Coach Hans pacing back and forth inside, his hands behind his back. He looked anxious and surprised, unable to sit still.
"Sorry, I got the news late."
Hans waved his hand to the players, then slapped the back of his right hand hard on his left palm, his words stumbling, "Mainly, I also... I didn't expect that Maël would start directly in this game."
It wasn't that he was stuttering, it was a kind of aphasia under excitement and agitation, "The last game against the National League, I didn't see them, I thought... they had completely become marginalized at the club."
The players shook their heads and waved their hands to indicate that it was okay, and they went to their seats in the meeting room one after another, looking up at the big screen.
There, they were showing the live broadcast of their U17 team's 'excellent graduate' Maël's game.
The logo in the upper left corner was very clear, it was the English Championship! Cardiff City Stadium, the players' tunnel.
The sound of 'huff huff' panting rang out, Maël was constantly adjusting his breathing, trying to make himself more focused and calm.
He was holding a young mascot in his right hand, standing next to a group of tall and strong EFL Championship players, about to walk out of the stadium and onto the road of his professional career.
"Beep beep!"
The referee's whistle sounded, and the three referees in front of the players led the front row of players towards the field.
Maël numbly followed the Sheffield United players in front of him, his heart pounding non-stop, even his hearing was a little impaired, and he only felt a buzzing sound in his ears.
He walked through the dark corridor of the players' tunnel, step by step towards the brightly lit stadium, towards the place he had been looking forward to for a long time.
"Oh!!!"
The moment he walked out of the stadium, the sound in his ears finally became clear, and his eyes became bright, it was the roar of the fans and the spotlights.
Looking around, the stadium, which could accommodate more than 30,000 people, was packed, a sea of people, and the waving arms turned the stands into a sea of joy, this was the ultimate feast for football fans.
He stepped onto the field with his somewhat numb legs, went through the debut ceremony in a daze, and stood in his position.
"Go! Go!!" A shout came from the bench, it was Gilbert in a vest waving to him.
Maël calmed down a bit, he knew that at this moment, many people he cared about were watching him, and he couldn't lose face on the field.
"Huff"
He took a deep breath, and he heard the fans on the sidelines start counting down.
"Seventeen... three... two... one!!"
When the countdown ended, the referee, standing on the extension line of the center circle, raised his right hand and blew the whistle to start the game, "Beep!!"
This second round battle of the EFL Championship officially began! Asking for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets! Thank you everyone!!
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