Soccer System: All the Skills, One Player!

"The son of a bitch is good..." he muttered to himself, shaking his head in a slight, bitter laugh.

Lucas walked back to the center of the field with a slight smile at the corner of his mouth. As he passed the center circle, he heard Nathan, the boy with the long brown hair.

"It was a good move, but... it's good to pass the ball, okay?" Nathan's voice was cold and direct, like an order.

Lucas just nodded, focused. "Relax, Nathan. I'm just doing what I have to."

The ball rolled again after the goal, and Team A began to advance with possession. The atmosphere among the players remained charged, and Team B knew there was no room for relaxation. After all, even though they were two goals up again, they were still being watched.

Lucas began to play closer to midfield. He knew the pressure would come now, with the opposition trying to regain control of the game and he no longer having a mission to fulfill. He looked at Willian, who was positioned a little further forward, ready to receive the ball.

"Willian, move back a bit more!" exclaimed Lucas, casting a quick, serious glance at his colleague.

Willian, although reluctant, nodded, moving to a more central position, close to Lucas.

As soon as the ball reached Lucas, he gave Willian a quick pass, indicating with a slight nod to follow. Willian took the ball and advanced a few steps, but soon saw his opponent's pressure approaching. In an almost automatic reflex, he gave the ball back to Lucas, who now had the space he needed to create a new move.

Lucas controlled the ball and, without hurrying, looked to his right, where Nathan was running across the field.

And so the rest of the second half continued. Lucas, further back, took charge of the midfield and Team B's attacks. This helped them score a few more goals, but it didn't stop them from conceding another.

In the end, the game ended 5-3 to Team B. The players gathered in the center of the pitch, sweaty, their faces glowing with exhaustion and the sincere smile of someone who had just given their all on the pitch. Between quick greetings and exchanged glances of enmity, Team B discreetly celebrated their victory, but there was no exaggerated euphoria.

Lucas was panting, his hands resting on his knees. "I think I might have done it..."
Your next chapter awaits on empire

It was then that Jaminez, the observant and serious coach, began to walk towards the group. He was a man of striking presence, with skin lightly marked by the sun, a cap and a thin beard wrapped around his chin. He was the kind of trainer who, without having to raise his voice, could achieve absolute silence in a crowded room.

The group instinctively stopped talking and turned their attention to Jaminez. He stopped right in the center, where he could look at each of the boys, who were now staring at him expectantly.

"You all have talent. That's the least I can say after what I've seen here today."

Murmurs of excitement and smiles of satisfaction began to appear on the surrounding faces, but he held up one hand, asking for silence.

"Today we weren't just here to see who can dribble or shoot. We wanted to see who can play. Those who understand that soccer is more than individual skills. And who has the mindset to work as a team, even if that means making personal sacrifices."

Lucas felt the weight of that look, but Jaminez's gaze moved quickly and was now on Nathan.

"Some of you already have this more developed mentality, but I need you all to understand something. When you take the field, you are part of a team. And a team works best when each part understands its role."

Nathan nodded slightly.

"I'll be honest, we were only planning to take two or three players, because our base is full and we needed specific pieces. Now, I already think that making a final decision won't be easy. We have recordings of the complete match, and we'll analyze your every move and your every decision on the pitch.

From what I've seen, there are some of you who are ready physically but not psychologically, while others have things on the pitch that need to be worked on, but their heads are centered. In any case, the answer will come tomorrow. We know that many of you have high expectations, but you're going to have to be a little patient."

The players exchanged glances, some clearly apprehensive, others more confident. Lucas felt he'd had a great game, with two assists and a goal, but it was impossible to say whether he'd passed or not because he'd gone so many minutes without touching the ball.

"And once again, congratulations. Regardless of the result, you showed some excellent soccer today."

At the end of his words, he took a few steps back and walked away, allowing the group to disperse again. The players began to relax a little, talking to each other again, some smiling and others quieter, thinking about the assessment that was to come the next day.

Lucas felt a firm hand on his shoulder and turned to look at Raphael, who was smiling at him with a glint of admiration in his eye.

"Hey, man, nice game. I think you bossed the midfield in that final, eh?" said Raphael, giving Lucas a friendly punch on the arm.

Lucas laughed, returning the gesture with a gentle tap on his colleague's shoulder. "You scored your goal too, didn't you? Anyway, man, it was good working with you on the second test," replied Lucas, genuinely.

But between the voices and the smiles, Lucas felt a pair of eyes fixed in his direction. He looked over and saw Felix, who until then had been his fiercest opponent, walking slowly towards him.

Felix was the kind of player who commanded respect just by being on the pitch. Tall and muscular, with broad shoulders and a focused expression, he stood out for his seriousness and intense posture. Throughout the game, he had been the rock in Lucas's shoe, blocking his path and contesting every ball with an almost relentless tenacity.

"Lucas." Felix stopped a few steps away. "I wanted to congratulate you on your game."

"Thanks, Felix. You played very well too. It was hard to get past you, to tell you the truth."

Felix let out a short laugh, almost in disbelief. "I guess that was the point, huh?" He uncrossed his arms and, with a nod, indicated for Lucas to move a little away from the group so that they could talk in private.

Lucas nodded and the two of them walked a few meters away, stopping near the side of the pitch. "You know, I've never cared much for being in the spotlight, but... you've managed to find a way to break down our line, to lead the game, even without touching the ball so much. That's not something I see very often."

"Thanks, Felix. And I think that without you in defense, the score would have been different." Lucas replied sincerely. Lucas replied sincerely, "You challenged me all the time. In fact, I think the game was so competitive because you were there."

The comment made Felix laugh lightly, and he shook his head. "I don't know if that's a compliment or a reminder that I need to improve. But, you know, these selection competitions are complicated. It was the first time and the last time we'll be on the same pitch with all these guys."

"That's true. In the end, it is what it is."

Lucas's comment made a smile appear at the corner of Felix's lips. "I'm not very good with words, but... thanks, Lucas. I think I managed to show them a lot of my soccer."

Lucas accepted the compliment, shaking Felix's hand firmly.

After changing and putting his uniform away, Lucas left Brighton's training center, crossing the main gate towards the exit. The sky was tinged with orange and purple, the sun setting over the fields which, just a few minutes ago, had witnessed several tests. He slung his backpack over his shoulder and looked ahead, spotting someone waiting for him.

His father was there, standing on the sidewalk, but what really caught Lucas' eye was the vehicle he was on: a classic black motorcycle, shiny and elegant, as if it had just come from an antique car show. His helmet was hanging off the side, and John, his father, was sitting on the seat, watching him with a half-smile that he reserved for very few occasions.

Lucas stopped, blinking a few times, trying to process what he was seeing. He knew that his father drove cars — always the old sedan he had owned since he was a child. But motorcycles?

John raised an eyebrow, interpreting Lucas' look. "What? Didn't you think your old dad still had style?"

Lucas laughed, shaking his head as he approached. "You never told me you knew how to ride a motorcycle. I didn't think that was you."

John sighed, making a dramatic gesture as he smoothed the bike's tank like someone caressing a hidden treasure. "Yeah, your dad's got a few tricks up his sleeve. And, to be honest, it was exactly this bike that won your mother over years ago."

"Exactly?"

"Okay, not exactly, because this one is a rental. But it was one very similar to this one. So? How was the test?"

"I think I've joined the team."