"BBC News: Sheffield United have won the EFL Championship 10-11 season title with a record-breaking high score!
"17-year-old striker Maël from the team won the Golden Boot and Assists Leader with 40 goals and 27 assists, breaking both charts' records!"
The next day, with most of the major leagues yet to conclude, the EFL Championship, having decided its champion and the first two Promotion to the Super League spots a week or two earlier, suddenly became the focus of attention for the entire British and even European football scene.
This is a common occurrence every season, when the Premier League and La Liga champions have not yet been decided, or the awards ceremonies have not yet begun.
People always congratulate the second-tier leagues first, warming up for the upcoming wave of champions.
They also pay attention to which second-tier teams have created epics this year, quietly completing their own wonderful season in a less-watched arena! "Sky Sports! 17-year-old Maël will land at the Emirates Stadium next season and return to London. Having scored 67 goals in the EFL Championship in a single season, is he the hope for Arsenal's revival? "With the Fabregas transfer saga in full swing, can he bear the position of Arsenal's future tactical core?"
On this day, fans who didn't pay much attention to the EFL Championship were swiping videos and posts about the 'EFL Championship Champion' with extremely high popularity on their phones, which instantly attracted their attention.
On weekdays, no matter how happily the EFL Championship players in the camera smile, or how passionately they celebrate with knee slides, they won't empathize with any excited emotions.
Even if they hear that someone in the EFL Championship has broken some record, they will mostly shake their heads.
Anyway, it's not a top league. Second-tier means they are not at the highest level. They can't even keep up with the top leagues, who would pay attention to the second-tier?!
No matter how great the second-tier is hyped, why don't they come to the top league to break records? But this day was different. When they saw the Sheffield United players in red and white jerseys ecstatically lifting the championship trophy, thinking that they were about to step into the Premier League next season... Some people immediately became curious and wanted to see which team was promoted to the Premier League this year, especially the champion among the promoted teams! At this time, the news such as 'record-breaking high score' on the title, 17-year-old player '40 goals and 27 assists', and Arsenal youngster 'leading the team for Promotion to the Super League' became particularly eye-catching.
Everyone turned their attention here, and after seeing a series of shocking data, they quickly shared the matter with friends, helping the public opinion to ferment.
In addition, major media outlets continued to build momentum, and for a time, the popularity of Sheffield United and Maël swept across Europe and even spread throughout the world football scene.
"The Guardian, we have retrieved Maël's data records for this season and discovered a terrifying thing.
"More than 25 of his goals were scored from outside the penalty area, 38 goals were hammered in with his right foot, 1 left-footed push after dribbling past the goalkeeper, and 1 header! "The EFL Championship defenders are by no means useless defenders. They have strong bodies and fierce confrontation habits, but why can't they defend against a player who can't use his left foot to kick the ball? "This does not mention his outstanding shooting ability and passing ability! "I don't know if it's because he's in the EFL Championship, but from the perspective of The Guardian's column football expert, his two abilities have the best standards!"
Soon, a large number of fans left messages under these posts, hyping up this wave of popularity.
In terms of discussion, there was relatively little about Sheffield United. After everyone congratulated and praised them, there was really nothing else to say.
But it was different for the players. Maël, who already had a certain degree of attention, completely aroused the madness of European football after this.
"Maël! When his data was double 10, I was dumbfounded and looked forward to double 20; when he really got double 20, I was speechless and expected him to reach the top of the double charts;
"When he really reached the top of the double charts, I was completely numb and didn't know how to evaluate him!"
"Evaluate?! Not only do I not know how to evaluate, but I can't even imagine how a 17-year-old player can produce this kind of data?"
"Yes, even for a star in his prime, this data is incredible."
"Some people are still evaluating, still imagining, I can't even feel him... Can you understand that feeling?
"It's as if this person doesn't exist at all, and capital and data networks have joined together to fabricate a player to deceive us!"
"Enjoy the football he brings, it's a goal feast of Long Shot and Cut Inside shots!"
"EFL Championship Half-Season and Full-Season Best Player! Top scorer, Assists Leader! Leading the team to Promotion to the Super League with 103 points! Look at his achievements! Next season, Premier League defenders, tremble!"
This time the popularity was even higher, and there were more strange people, and the situation of mixed praise and criticism in the comment area began to intensify.
"It's still my previous point of view, it's just the EFL Championship, don't hype it too much! What if the expectations are too high, and he can't even play as a starter when he goes to Arsenal next year?"
"Agree! Don't hype up a player as soon as he comes out. EFL Championship players have the best standards?! If he is really stronger than the Premier League front line, why didn't he stay at Arsenal?"
"Yes, if he is really as strong as you said, why did Mr. Wenger loan him out? Is he afraid of winning the championship?"
They have their own set of logic, and it is really not easy for ordinary people to refute with theory, and the argument becomes a public opinion scolding war.
In any case, after this, Maël became the real winner.
The overwhelming popularity came, causing his social media traffic to explode in a short period of time!
Fans began to search for Maël's news on websites such as Facebook and Twitter. At the beginning, they must have watched his highlight reels and speeches during interviews, starting with deep digging from the field.
Where there is demand, there is a market, and many editors quickly emerged on major video websites and social media.
They added music to Maël's highlight reels, and some even used some editing techniques to make his videos look very explosive.
"Maël Long Shot High-Burning Mix!"
"Maël Cut Inside Curved Shot Collection!"
This kind of search has basically become the top of the soaring list in the search bars of major platforms, and some even have 30,000 to 40,000 likes.
As fans got to know Maël better, some became die-hard supporters, deeply enamored with the player.
Having grown tired of highlight reels, these fans began to focus on the minutiae of Maël's life, desperately searching for any news about him.
——"Picture 2!"
——"Off to Norwich!"
On one of Maël's posts like this, many new fans flooded in, leaving playful comments.
"Beginning: Off to Norwich!—Ending: 2-4 defeat!"
"Off to! Hahahaha, didn't expect to lose, did you? That game was a complete rout!"
"If Norwich hadn't gotten those 3 points, they might not have achieved Promotion to the Super League. Maël, you truly are Norwich's greatest savior, first gifting them 3 points, then scoring the Game-winning goal against Queens Park Rangers to lift Norwich into the Premier League!"
"Shouldn't Carrow Road Stadium in Norwich erect a statue for Maël?"
"Still posting selfies?"
"Why does this player love posting selfies so much? And, it would be fine if you posted some lifestyle photos, but stop taking close-ups, it's infuriating. Give me your address, and I'll come to your room and teach you how to take photos."
After browsing for a while, these people liked and commented on Maël's latest post, urging him to quickly release the photos taken on the day of the championship win.
There's always someone asking for updates everywhere.
May 9th arrived, the day of the championship parade, a large-scale celebration that every championship team holds after the season ends.
That morning, Sheffield United's official club announced the basic route of the championship parade and confirmed the time as 1 p.m.
Fans responded instantly, and starting from 11 a.m., fans wearing Sheffield United's red and white striped jerseys began to flock to the streets, standing on the sidewalks and waiting.
By 12 p.m., the streets along the parade route were basically packed, with tens of thousands of people arriving in the city center area, and the number was still increasing.
Many people regretted not going to Queens Park Rangers on the day of the championship win, so today they brought their entire families out to admire the team's championship glory in the city!
They all wore the club's scarves, and many people waved small team flags, turning the entire street red.
Some fanatics even climbed onto the traffic lights, sitting on top and waving flags, waiting for the team's bus to appear.
"Wow!!"
At 1 p.m., when the team's bus slowly appeared at the end of the road, shouts instantly filled the entire city center, countless flags fluttered in the wind, and as far as the eye could see, there were fanatic crowds.
They surged towards the bus, surrounding it so tightly that only a small gap was left for the bus to move forward.
Thus, a behemoth moved slowly at a speed of 5-8 kilometers per hour, receiving the pilgrimage of the people of Sheffield City.
"Oh!!" On the roof of the parade bus, the players successively raised the championship trophy, raised their arms and shouted, enjoying the fanatical gazes of the fans below.
Those who didn't get to hold the trophy that day had their dreams fulfilled at this moment, grinning foolishly with their big white teeth.
Their main theme for these two days was celebration: celebrating with family over drinks, celebrating with teammates at nightclubs, celebrating with girlfriends at hotels... Apart from celebrating, it seemed like there was nothing else to do.
Fortunately, everything has an end. After today's parade celebration, they will usher in the summer break! Vacation is coming! "Ooh-rah...!!"
Maël opened a bottle of champagne and sprayed it at Gilbert and the other players, the foam jumping and spraying.
He watched the white foam rush out of the bottle like a dragon, hitting everyone's clothes and forming a shock wave, opening his mouth wide and laughing as he sprayed.
"Ah!" A wail sounded. The players who were sprayed by Maël first curled up to block their faces, but gradually realized that they were soaked all over, so they didn't care anymore and rushed to the place where the champagne was stored.
As several bottles of champagne were opened and aimed at Maël, and the champagne in his hand had just run out, he had to raise his hands, "Let's talk this out!"
At this moment, these bottle openings didn't look like champagne bottle openings to him, but more like being aimed at by tank cannons.
"Pshh...pshh!!" Seven or eight streams of white foam guns coldly and mercilessly shot towards Maël's position, instantly washing all his clothes, and he also curled up.
"Hahaha..."
"Here it comes!"
"Help me!"
In the end, everyone was having a blast, ignoring everything and spraying each other with champagne, drenching Gareth Speed with sticky foam.
When they were tired of spraying, they leaned against the railings on the roof, opened a few bottles of beer, and looked at the dense crowd of people below while drinking, their faces filled with satisfaction.
What could be better than this? Talking loudly with the best teammates, laughing loudly, drinking beer happily, celebrating the important moments of life, with tens of thousands of fanatic fans waving and shouting at them! "If I could choose..."
Gilbert hiccuped, raising his right hand with a dazed look: "I want to live like this every day! To live in this wonderful world every day!"
"Keep it up."
Maël was also a bit drunk, laughing dizzily: "This is just the EFL Championship title, there are so many more honors waiting for us, we'll live even better lives than this."
"Yeah, I'm going to win the Champions League!" Gilbert clenched his fist, suddenly remembering he had just turned 18, full of confidence.
"I..."
Maël watched him make a wish at this moment, and he was also a little moved. He thought for a moment and then waved his hand earnestly, saying: "I want to win the Grand Slam!"
A burst of laughter rang out beside him, many people thought he and Gilbert were drunk, making jokes without restraint.
They also scrambled to imitate, some saying they wanted to win the Premier League title, some saying they wanted to win the World Cup, and others saying they wanted to win the Copa América, etc.
Maël looked at their appearance, shaking his head with a faint smile.
Indeed, he was still too young now, had walked too few roads, saying he wanted to win the Grand Slam, it would be good if he wasn't taken for a madman.
But he would always keep this idea firmly in his heart, and move towards it step by step!
"Maël." Gilbert turned his head at this moment, his body swaying but his expression very serious: "To use your words, this time I'm serious."
Maël's heart suddenly stirred, he hooked his arm around Gilbert's shoulders, saying like a confidant: "I'm serious too."
In this instant, he forgot everything else, what past life, what different soul, what pressure, fatigue, etc., all thrown to the back of his mind.
Both of them were immersed in the atmosphere of the moment, making their wishes with bright clothes and spirited expressions.
They were in the prime of their lives, with a great future waiting for them!
Time flies, when the old goal has been perfectly achieved, now it is time to look up and look forward! As the bus slowly drove into the parking lot next to Bramall Lane Stadium, a dense crowd stopped the bus, seemingly for some kind of event.
Looking closely, this group of fans were neatly dressed in Sheffield United jerseys, wearing team hats, and scarves around their necks, a very complete three-piece set.
Obviously, they were not ordinary fans of the team, but a hardcore fan organization that often followed the team to away games to cheer them on!
"We're leaving."
Gilbert looked at these somewhat familiar faces below, and then at the stadium that held so many of their memories and sweat, suddenly feeling a bit reluctant.
"Yeah."
Maël waved to the fans he had met a few times, and also turned his head towards Bramall Lane Stadium.
He had played at least twenty league games here, each one extremely important, extremely crucial.
It really was a bit hard to part with.
Just standing here and looking, he seemed to be back on the day of the match, faintly hearing the cloud-piercing cheers and shouts inside, causing him to be uncontrollably dazed for a moment.
"Did Mr. Wenger say anything?"
Gilbert looked up at Maël, asking: "Do we return to the team first, or take a few days off first?"
"He told us to decide for ourselves."
Maël gave him the answer, and then a few strange feelings suddenly rose in his heart, the teammates around him seemed to have stopped talking.
He went around Gilbert and looked in their direction, finding that they were all looking at them, with mischievous smiles, with emotion, and a bit of reluctance.
They had been celebrating for three days in a row, and even on this last day, they hadn't properly said goodbye, using celebration to divert their attention.
"Pa-la!" At this moment, a loud noise suddenly rang out, a giant banner was suddenly dropped from the west stand of Bramall Lane, filling the entire side of the stand.
This was an extremely shocking scene, the banner over a hundred meters long was instantly dropped, making a 'whooshing' sound as it unfurled, its face gradually appearing in front of everyone.
Maël and Gilbert subconsciously turned their heads to look, gradually seeing clearly that it was a giant poster of only the two of them.
In the picture, one of them was making a preparatory action for a Brutal Long Shot, and the other was diving forward, his body almost parallel to the ground.
"Oh..." Gilbert hugged his head, shivering all over, he seemed to know the reason why these fans were here.
However, he never expected that it was because of him and Maël.
Maël didn't speak, but a surprised smile quickly appeared on his face, he felt a burst of numbness all over, and goosebumps appeared on the surface of his skin.
This should be a farewell ceremony!
When the poster was finally fully unfurled, the bolded line at the bottom caught everyone's attention—"Bye! Maël! Bye! Guilbert!"
It really was a farewell!
Sheffield United had planned this grand farewell in advance, a surprise to thank Maël and Gilbert for their contributions to the team!
"This…"
The two looked at each other, both feeling a bit speechless. They turned to look at their teammates and coaching staff, realizing they had known about this all along, deliberately keeping it from them.
"Bye! Bye!" Loud shouts came from all around as Sheffield United's die-hard fan groups raised small banners and custom team scarves.
They were covered with farewell messages to the two, some with neat handwriting, others resembling chicken scratch.
"We will always remember you!"
"Farewell and good luck!"
"Wishing you greater success, thank you for the joy and honor you brought to Sheffield!"
"Maël! I love you!"
"Gilbert! Don't think you're dim just because the sun is too bright!"
"You'll never walk alone!"
In any case, these were farewell gifts they had prepared long ago, written stroke by stroke after much thought, expressing their most genuine emotions.
Looking at the sincere farewell messages, emotions immediately welled up in the two. The impact of this scene was very strong.
"It wasn't for nothing."
Gilbert's face slowly turned red, his emotions were very agitated, and tears were already welling up in his eyes. "Maël, we didn't come here for nothing!"
"Of course not."
Maël looked down, seeing many fathers carrying their young sons and daughters on their shoulders, letting them hold up farewell messages with bewildered expressions, which was extremely adorable.
He told Gilbert, "What we leave for Sheffield United will always be here, passed down from generation to generation."
After saying that, he turned around, looking at the Sheffield United players and coaching staff who were already preparing to come up to say goodbye. Even though they would likely meet in the Premier League next year, the jerseys they wore and their circumstances would be different.
"Maël."
Janu Hans was the first to come up this time, shaking his head reluctantly. They were the most tacit attacking partners. "Good luck, I'll be waiting for the day you win the Grand Slam, haha."
The two hugged, and Janu Hans walked towards Gilbert behind him. They had also been partners for a season, and their friendship was deep.
"Maël!"
Evans came up and hugged Maël, reluctant to let go, constantly patting Maël's back with a look of nostalgia on his face.
In the past, they only hugged like this when they scored, but this would likely not happen again in the future.
Evans finally increased his strength, hugging Maël tightly before letting go. "Go to Arsenal and work hard, don't lose face for us."
He left a dashing sentence, smiling as he turned and left.
"Good luck!"
"Waiting for the day you become a superstar."
"When we meet again next season, I'll have to defend against you, hahaha…"
"Since you broke the EFL Championship's goal record, go to the Premier League and break Alan Shearer and Andy Cole's records while you're at it!"
"You're making it too difficult for him, haha, but he's still young, I believe in him!"
Maël and the other Sheffield United players hugged each other, sending blessings, and the reluctance continued to intensify.
Gareth Speed was the second to last to come up. They didn't say much on the day of the championship celebration, and now they finally had a chance.
"Mr. Speed."
Maël looked into his eyes, seeing that the usual depression was gone. "If you're still coaching Sheffield United next year, then we'll see you in the Premier League. I hope you can lead this team well."
"I hope so too."
Gareth Speed sighed, came up and squeezed Maël's arm, and said with emotion: "These shoulders now carry too many people's expectations, too many people's hopes, don't put too much pressure on yourself.
"As just a former Premier League player with a lot of appearances, I don't have much to say to a player as talented as you."
"The only experience I have is that sometimes if you hesitate and are indecisive, then think less, bury your head and do the work you should be doing, keep moving forward, keep moving forward, rest when you're tired, and continue when you recover."
"One day, you will reach the shore you want, even if your state of mind is different then, it will still be a resolution of your concerns."
"Too many people are proud of you. It's my luck to meet you in the first phase of my coaching career. Keep going! I'll come to London to see you often."
Saying this, he lowered his head and smiled: "Speaking of which, you've also fulfilled one of my wishes, so let's do it the old way, let's make a bet."
Maël had already guessed when he heard him say this, but he still smiled and said, "How do you want to bet?"
Gareth Speed thought for a moment, then looked up and said, "If you win the Premier League title, I will tell you this wish that I have never told anyone in person."
"Okay."
Maël gladly accepted and gave him a final high-five: "I'll wait for that day."
Joelson was the last one to come up. He was fine when he sent Maël back halfway, but now he seemed a little awkward.
"Mr. Joelson."
Maël took the initiative to step forward and give Joelson a customary hug. This scout who discovered him, the first assistant coach who sent him a 'price card' in the early part of the season, naturally held a different position in his heart.
He remembered when he first came and took the initiative to smile: "I tried my best."
He didn't mention Gilbert, and let him tell Joelson himself later.
"Okay." Joelson's answer was very simple, but his eyes were blurred by a burst of sourness, and he always felt that something was about to fall.
After saying goodbye to everyone, Maël let out a long breath, picked up a bottle of beer, took a sip, and sighed: "It's quite tiring."
As the bus drove towards the southeast, continuing the parade celebration, the atmosphere became lively again.
Maël came to the railing, looked at the fans who were still holding up farewell messages, and looked at Bramall Lane Stadium, which was getting farther and farther away.
He swung his right arm and waved goodbye to the fans: "Bye! I love you all!!"
"Bye!! Maël!!"
"Kodall told me to give you a message, if you come to Sheffield in the future, he will treat you to drinks! Not only him, but his son too!"
"Maël, we are waiting for you at Bramall Lane to wear your home team jersey!"
Maël turned his head back and didn't look at the scene behind him anymore. He noticed that Gilbert's body was shaking slightly beside him, but he didn't step forward to comfort him, just looked ahead.
Southeast, that's the direction of London! This time, he is really going back!
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