September 3rd was destined to be a joyous day for the Maël team.
Having just scored four goals in the Premier League, Maël, in high spirits, swiftly fulfilled his promise and offered each of them a new contract.
"Haha...!"
"Oh my, hurry up, I'm going to buy some flowers to decorate the living room!"
"We're having a celebratory feast at home today, with a little drink!"
Laughter filled the villa from morning. The five members of the personal training and physiotherapy team were busy, some personally fetching the contracts, others buying flowers and sweets to decorate the house.
"Hey!"
After mopping the floor, José, with a look of fulfillment and satisfaction, happily said to old Davis beside him, "This is the first raise you and I have had since coming here, it feels really good."
"Yes," Davis said, walking out of the kitchen with a plate of fruit, shaking his head and smiling, "Although I'm old and don't know how to spend so much money, I'm still very happy."
"What about your children?"
José asked curiously, "Do they not need old Davis's help?"
Before Davis could answer, he said longingly, "I've already thought about it, with this raise, I'm going to splurge a bit, improve the quality of life for my family, and make the kids happier.
"When I save some more money in the future, I'll grit my teeth and buy a detached villa in Spain, so my family can experience the life of a small-time millionaire."
"They need it."
Davis thought of his son and daughter, his face showing longing and complexity, "But they rarely accept my help since they're already working. I can only save a lot of the money, preparing for their future."
The smile on José's face faded a little. He had been with Davis for a long time, knew him relatively well, and could roughly guess their family situation.
"Are your children not very close to you?"
"I guess so." Davis's voice rose a little, trying to appear calm, "I spent 23 years in Portuguese Second League and Portuguese Primeira Liga clubs. Back then, I was a workaholic and rarely spent time with my family.
"By the time I retired, my wife had already left, and my youngest daughter was already in college. At this point, they didn't have time to spend with me.
"I think they probably have some resentment? Because I love Football too much, and I wanted to achieve something in this industry too much, so I neglected to care for them."
Davis smiled, "People often say, you can't have it all in life. If you choose something, you're destined to lose something else.
"Like now, I chose to accompany a talented young man, to bloom in the second spring of my career, and to gain glory I never dared to imagine before, but I have to stay in London, which is farther away from home."
He picked up a piece of watermelon, smiling brightly, "But it's not bad either. Except for missing my family sometimes, I enjoy my current life very much.
"More than 550,000 people follow my Facebook and Twitter. I am very famous all over the world, especially in the circle of physical trainers, in the Football circle. I have received many awards, and people have started asking me to do advertisements."
José patted him on the shoulder and smiled, "You're right, you can't have it all in life, now is very good.
"Why did we choose this path? Isn't it just to have a life like this now? To be a famous person, to be someone others see as amazing, to work with the best players."
"Haha...!" Davis laughed, patting José's shoulder, "Okay, let's not talk about anything else today, let's celebrate properly, we have to drink a few more glasses."
"Yes."
"Did Harry go to print the contract? Why hasn't he come back yet?"
"I don't know, it should be soon."
The two chatted in the living room. Because they had the French windows of the front hall open, the sound also reached upstairs, where Isabella, who was at home making handmade commemorative jerseys, heard it.
Isabella sat thoughtfully at the table. After hesitating for a long time, she called Mendes, "Hi, Mr. Mendes, are you sunbathing by the Atlantic again? How have you been lately?"
"Haha, no, I'm just at the company dealing with Maël's affairs. There are 4 operations ready to go to London. I'm telling them something."
"Oh, I see. José and Davis were both found by you. I think they've been away from home for too long. Won't they be a little lonely?"
"Huh? What?"
"It just so happens that there have been many happy events recently. I was wondering if you could find a way to contact their families and invite them to London for a 'family' party to sit down together."
".Oh, that's a good idea, I think I can try it."
"It just so happens that we haven't met your family either, invite them to come along."
"Haha... I don't know how to refuse. I actually had this idea a long time ago, so let's do it together? Let me think, it must be grand."
"Of course."
"Okay, I'll contact them, wait for my news. By the way, do you mean to keep it a secret and surprise them then?"
"That's right."
"Okay, it may take time, try to do it before the end of the month."
After confirming this matter, Isabella left a message for Maël and smiled with satisfaction after receiving an affirmative reply from him, and resumed making the commemorative jersey in her hand, which was a gift she prepared for Maël.
Not long after, Harry and Safina, who went out to find Pepino to get the contract and do some shopping, returned home, and they instantly triggered the encirclement of the others.
"Where's mine?"
"Let me see it!"
Because they have been together for a long time, and the salary structure corresponds to personal ability and contribution and is relatively reasonable, they don't mind others seeing and knowing their salary and salary increase.
Before taking the contract, they knew their respective salaries and increases. At this moment, they just want to see the confirmation in black and white.
"Kiss!"
José took his contract and kissed the paper with the fragrance of ink with a look of intoxication after seeing the £5,500 weekly salary on the new contract.
Davis also smiled and looked at his contract. His salary increase was the same as José's, both rising to £5,500.
As for the Harry and Safina sisters, their salaries were increased to £4,800 each, which must include the amount of the 'old employee incentive bonus'.
Lewis, because he is still working part-time, is not particularly embarrassed to increase his salary with everyone. After discussing with Maël, he only increased his salary by £500 to £7,500, which is considered a symbolic celebration with everyone.
"Bang!"
"Cheers!"
The 'family' of five who got the contract, before the outgoing Maël came back, sat at the dining table and started eating a big meal with cups in their hands.
They don't have any psychological burden, anyway, Maël should drink less and eat less of these greasy things during the start of the season.
"Buzz...!"
Before long, the Ferrari 458's distinctive deep roar sounded, and Maël's headlights shone on the French windows, illuminating the faces of the five people and bringing smiles to their faces.
Because everyone knew that the boss was back with gifts! "I'll open the door!"
Safina jumped up and trotted to the door to open it, waiting for their boss to return.
Maël quickly walked in, holding two large boxes in his hands, which seemed to be the gifts for everyone.
Seeing everyone already eating and drinking, he raised his eyebrows and smiled, "Why are you celebrating again? And why didn't you wait for me?"
"We celebrate every day, naturally because we're happy every day."
Safina thoughtfully took a box and helped him carry it to the dining table, while answering, "As for you, with the Champions League imminent, don't eat greasy barbecue or drink alcohol. I'll just make you some healthy food every day."
"…"
Maël was speechless, but the corners of his eyes and mouth still carried a smile. He put down the box and took out a Louis Vuitton bag from it.
"This is a bag I had custom-made for you at Louis Vuitton, and inside are commemorative luxury items from most of the well-known brands under the Louis Vuitton Group."
He opened a bag, took out a Dior special edition perfume and a Hennessy elliptical bottle of liquor, and said triumphantly, "Just these two things add up to nearly £20,000, and this is just a small part.
"But, since I'm their spokesperson, they sent me seven sets of gifts like this.
"I really can't spend all the money I have. I guess this will be the norm in the future. It seems I don't even have to spend my own money to give gifts, haha."
He prepared a gift for each of the five team members, and also prepared one each for his uncle Clermont and aunt Betty, a total of seven sets, all obtained for free, saving £400,000-500,000.
As the resources he can leverage become larger and larger, the demand for many brands and businesses to build a good relationship with him also becomes greater and greater, and they are all waiting for him to need something to give him gifts.
He knows the principle that the free stuff is the most expensive, and he also understands what the brands are thinking.
But having reached this point, people don't actually need to be too calculating or petty about some personal favors.
It's better to live with a broad mind, be upright, and even enjoy the convenience brought about by these improvements in identity and status, and the enthusiasm brought about by one's own high value.
"Oh, oh...!" Exclamations rang out, some with surprise, some with amazement, and of course some with teasing.
Safina took a bag with bright eyes and said happily while unpacking, "Thank you, boss! This is the happiest time for me every time."
"This is very valuable." Davis was a little restrained, "It's equal to many weeks of our Weekly Salary."
Harry smiled and looked at him from the side, "Don't worry about unnecessary things, just take it. This is the year-end bonus the boss gives us, and it's every year.
"Didn't you hear? As he gets stronger and stronger now, he doesn't even need to spend his own money to give out year-end bonuses."
"Haha...!"
José and the others laughed together. They quickly each took a bag and raised their glasses together in front of the table, "Cheers to the most handsome, talented, richest, and best Football player in the world, Maël!!"
Maël looked at them with a smile at the table, with a bit of envy and satisfaction in his eyes.
Wait a little longer, when their families come over together, they can have a small drink at the family gathering and get to know their families as well.
After all, from the moment they decided to walk this road together, their lives were destined to be inseparable. If there are no accidents, they will definitely become lifelong friends.
...
On September 4th, Maël took a plane to the Clairefontaine training camp in Paris, France, to participate in the national team's training camp.
After just three rounds of the Premier League, he ushered in the first international match day of the season, lasting a total of nine days.
Unlike last season, this season he has become the captain of the French Team, and he must report to the national team for every international match day to participate in training and matches.
This time, their task during the international match day is not an international A-level friendly match to compete for national team points, but the official match of the World Cup European Qualifiers! This is definitely a very important match, and it is the key to determining whether the French Team can advance to the World Cup finals! Even for a team like the French Team, qualifying for the World Cup 32 seems not difficult for them, but in the face of such an important task, no one will take it lightly.
"Buzz..."
Shortly after getting off the plane, Maël received the group draw and schedule from Deschamps on the business car. He opened it and looked at it carefully.
It can be said that since the beginning of this report, he will start a journey of fighting on two fronts, club and national team.
In the club, he will strive for more championships in different events, strive to complete more outstanding data performance, and win the Grand Slam in an amazing posture.
In the national team, he will strive to send the French Team steadily to the Brazil World Cup in two years, and also strive to become the team's all-time top scorer.
"Group B, French Team, Denmark Team, Czech Team, Bulgaria Team, Armenian Team, Malta Team."
Soon, Maël saw the group situation of this European Qualifiers. The French Team was assigned to Group B, with 5 opponents in the same group.
A total of 53 teams participated in this European Qualifiers, and they were divided into 9 groups. There were 6 teams in 8 groups, and 5 teams in the last group.
The teams in each group will play a double round-robin match, and the first in the group will directly qualify for the World Cup.
The remaining 8 best runners-up will be drawn to play a home and away double round-robin match, and the winner of the total score will take the remaining 4 places.
"The goal can only be the first in the group."
After reading it, Maël confirmed one thing in his heart, only qualifying as the first in the group is more secure.
If you fall into the second place in the group to draw lots to play a double round-robin promotion match, then the result is really hard to say, and the fault tolerance is too small.
And in this group, the only teams capable of competing with them for the first place are the Denmark Team and the Czech Team, and the remaining 2 teams are likely to accompany them.
The focus should be on these 2 teams, try not to let them get points on their own team, and also try to steadily double-kill the other 3 teams at home and away, and don't lose the points that should not be lost.
After thinking about this, Maël looked at the schedule of this international match day.
They have not encountered direct competitors for the time being. The first round of this period is on September 8, and their opponent is the Bulgaria Team. The second round is on September 12, and their opponent is the Malta Team.
He put down his phone and treated these two opponents with a normal heart, without worrying or underestimating them.
"Huff"
When getting off the car, Maël looked at the Clairefontaine training camp that was gradually becoming familiar in front of him, and suddenly felt a sense of fulfillment in his heart.
Through more than two years of hard work, he has been able to steadily appear in the major top arenas, both at the club level and at the national team level.
In front of him are two broad roads full of flowers and applause.
He can not only step on one of them with one foot, and go hand in hand, but also seem to see the two roads constantly approaching, intersecting at the end of the road, and becoming one, reaching the peak at the same time!
That is his end point - the first Grand Slam in Football, Football God! In the future, he will spend a very busy and fulfilling day, stepping up on two roads to reach a higher height and conquer a higher place!
"Hello, captain."
Walking into the hotel in the training camp, Maël saw Sagna standing at the door waiting for him, with a teasing smile on his face, as if he had met him for the first time.
He put his arm around the other's neck and took the elevator upstairs with him.
"The team has a new young man, a 21-year-old Real Sociedad striker."
Sagna had arrived earlier and was now smiling as he introduced the new player to him, "Griezmann, you should remember him, he was among the top contenders for the Golden Boy Award last year."
"I looked at his stats, 7 goals and 4 assists in La Liga last season, very good, very promising, he should be cultivated for the future."
Seeing that Maël's face showed no surprise or other expressions, he chuckled, "Of course, compared to you, his potential is not so obvious."
"Hope we can cooperate well."
Maël smiled faintly, "Who knows, maybe we'll be fighting side by side in the World Cup in two years."
"Yeah."
Sagna nodded, revealing a little, "When I went downstairs to pick you up just now, he was with a few La Liga players, and when he heard you were coming, he clearly had some strange emotions, like he wanted to get to know you but was too embarrassed."
"Haha..." Maël laughed a few times without saying anything. Had he already made other geniuses feel this way?
After returning to his room and settling in, he had the usual meeting with Deschamps and then went back to his room to rest, relieving the fatigue of the journey.
"Bang, bang, bang!"
From the next day, the intense training for the preparation began, and Maël also began to get to know Griezmann in this process. They first got acquainted through responding to each other and passing the ball on the field.
Maël's first impression of him was that he was agile. He played football very skillfully, and his creativity and shooting skills were excellent. He looked like a good seed to be the core of the attack.
However, because he had only played as a starter in La Liga for one season, compared to his peak period later, he lacked some maturity. It seemed unlikely that he could compete with Nasri and other midfielders and forwards at present.
From another perspective, he felt that the other party was a bit restrained.
As soon as he got to the field, he huddled with a few La Liga players and rarely spoke to him. When he did speak, he had a shy smile and often looked elsewhere.
This gave him some special feelings. The future number 10 of the French Team, one of the biggest contributors to winning the World Cup, was actually like this in his childhood, in front of him, who was two years younger than him.
It seemed that the accumulation of data and honors on the field had already given him many halos and a sense of distance illuminated by dazzling light.
It had to be said that this feeling was good, and it made him want to achieve even more dazzling achievements on this front.
Most of the 10 group matches were easy wins. He hoped that he could score more goals and get closer to the position of the all-time leading scorer of the French Team! "Tomorrow's opponent is Bulgaria, a third- or fourth-rate European team."
On the evening of September 7, Deschamps held the final meeting in the Clairefontaine conference room, "I think everyone will definitely think that a third- or fourth-rate team is not competitive and can be easily taken down."
He paced back and forth. The European Cup championship had given him great confidence, making him believe that he was the best candidate for this position.
"I don't deny it."
Deschamps first gave everyone confidence, "Facing such a team, we must not only strive for victory, but also strive to play a complete victory, or even a beautiful victory, at home."
"Many people will feel that facing such a team, it seems useless to score more goals, and there is no gold content."
Speaking of this, he paused, and then said: "But I want to say that people's opponents are always only themselves. What you have to do is to play your due level and strive to perform beyond your level, no matter who you face! "What's more, many scoring records and big win records are brushed from teams and players who are weaker than you. There are often no such opportunities in strong dialogues.
"If you don't cherish this kind of game, you will never be able to defeat those who value these opportunities.
"Because they understand that every game is very important, and the performance against weak teams is one of the important reasons for them to become top players and top teams!"
Deschamps initially chose a relatively unconventional angle, and then got to the point, "In addition, everyone should not underestimate the enemy. Bulgaria is not weak. Their world ranking is around 72nd.
"Many players in the team are the core of Ludogorets and CSKA Sofia, the giants of the Bulgarian Premier League, and there are also many core players of the Russian Premier League giants.
"This time they are full of fighting spirit, and the strength they display may not be weaker than the Czech Team and Denmark.
"If you're even slightly careless, they'll snatch points from your hands, or even hand you a defeat."
"Alright, let the data analysis coach give you the final pre-match analysis later."
Deschamps clapped his hands, and an assistant coach came to the podium with a notebook, plugged in a USB drive, and opened a long video to begin the explanation.
The players listened carefully, understanding many characteristics of the Bulgarian players, their recent formations and tactics, and possible scenarios for tomorrow's match.
Soon after, led by Maël, everyone in the meeting room shouted together: "French Team! Go! Go!!"
The next day at 7:30 PM, the Stade de France, capable of accommodating 80,000 spectators, was brightly lit and packed, with at least 70,000 French fans in attendance.
"France! France!!"
Their shouts were extremely unified, each one like a wave surging back and forth in the stadium, causing a minor earthquake.
"Deng deng deng!"
As he entered the field to the sound of music, Maël looked around the stadium, his eyes filled with surprise and shock.
On one hand, he had never seen so many fans supporting their team in a national team match. During the European Cup, because there were many opposing fans as well, there were only twenty or thirty thousand French fans, less than half of today's number.
Even in club matches, he had never seen a scene where more than 70,000 Arsenal fans cheered him on.
After the number of supporters exceeded the 30,000 mark, the shock brought by each additional 10,000 increased exponentially.
You would feel like there were people behind you, giving you a particularly reassuring sense of security and motivation for the match.
On the other hand, he didn't expect that so many fans would come to cheer them on for a European Qualifiers match against Bulgaria.
In his memory, European Qualifiers matches were not that important. The strong and weak were very obvious, and the weak teams were just small monsters for the strong teams to farm experience on, and would not arouse much desire for people to watch live.
However, remembering how much he valued the Asian Qualifiers in his previous life, and how much fans of Asian football powerhouses like Japan, South Korea, and Australia valued the Asian Qualifiers, he understood.
No matter what, this was the key to determining whether this team could appear in the World Cup. This kind of match was extremely important to people in any region!
"Go ahead, guys... we are behind you, singing for you, trembling for you!"
"Dreams are so wonderful that they are enough for us to pass, shoot, and score, and let our hearts beat for you!"
Soon after, in the singing of the fans, the players of both sides completed the pre-match rituals, stood in their respective halves, and formed circles to cheer each other on.
"Come on, come on!!"
Maël put his hand in the middle of the French players, looked left and right, and said: "So many people are watching us, we must bring a wonderful game! Go climb, go conquer!!"
"French Team, go! Go!!"
The 11 French players ran away, running to their respective positions, and the referee blew the whistle to start the match, "Bip!!"
This first round match of the 14 World Cup European Qualifiers officially kicked off.
Maël, who already had 18 goals for the French Team, began his new journey. His goal was to surpass Henry, the team's all-time leading scorer, who had scored a total of 51 goals for the French Team.
This was not a distant goal. Perhaps, if he continued to develop along this path, he would have a chance to surpass the other party around the 14 World Cup.
Now, it was time to lay a good foundation. He had to seize every scoring opportunity as much as possible and move closer to the goal!
If he could surpass the legendary star Henry's entire career goalscoring achievements in both the club and the French Team before the age of 22, then he would probably be very close to his ultimate goal.
ps: There's one more chapter coming later. I got a headache a bit late today, and the next chapter will finish writing about the two games.
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