The Football Legends System

The victory in Paris, a Champions League group stage opener, felt like another brick in the wall of Nathan's growing legend. His Overall Rating: S+ was a constant hum, a quiet satisfaction that resonated with every successful touch and pass. But his gaze was already set beyond individual statistics, drawn deep into the Legacy Archive, especially the "Revolutionary Roles" section. He was studying players who didn't just play a position, but redefined it – the libero, the false nine, the inverted winger. He realized true GOAT status wasn't just about mastering existing roles, but about creating new ones, pushing the tactical boundaries of the sport itself.

He spent hours watching old clips, seeing how a player could drop into midfield to create an overload, then suddenly surge forward to become a striker. It was like football was a constantly evolving puzzle, and these legends were the ones who found new ways to solve it.

One sunny afternoon at Carrington, during a tactical possession drill, Nathan found himself automatically dropping deeper than usual, pulling a marking midfielder with him, then suddenly sprinting forward, leaving a huge gap behind. Bruno Fernandes, initially confused, quickly adapted, threading a pass into the space Nathan had just created, which Marcus Rashford then exploited with a blistering run.

"Interesting, Nathan," Erik ten Hag remarked, a thoughtful look on his face. "You pulled their shape apart there. Didn't expect that."

Nathan just grinned. The Legacy Archive was truly shaping his game in unexpected ways.

He observed his teammates, a strong core that felt like a family.

Casemiro – Ability: A+ | Potential: B | Overall Rating: A+

The unyielding shield. His presence alone makes the midfield impenetrable.

Raphael Varane – Ability: A+ | Potential: B+ | Overall Rating: A+

Elegant, intelligent, reads the game like a book. A true leader at the back.

The next challenge: a home Premier League fixture against West Ham United. The "Hammers" were always a tough opponent, known for their physicality, dangerous set-pieces, and ruthless counter-attacking ability. They wouldn't be star-struck by United's double champion status; they'd come to fight.

Nathan used his "Talent Scout" on West Ham's key players.

Tomáš Souček – Ability: A | Potential: B+ | Overall Rating: A-

Midfield powerhouse. Aerial threat, tireless work rate. A proper engine.

Lucas Paquetá – Ability: A | Potential: A+ | Overall Rating: A-

Creative spark, great close control, can unlock defenses with a pass or a dribble.

Jarrod Bowen – Ability: A | Potential: A | Overall Rating: A-

Pacy winger, excellent finisher on the break. Always a threat.

"They'll sit deep, soak up pressure, and then hit us fast with Bowen and Paquetá," Erik ten Hag warned the team in the pre-match meeting. "Don't get caught out on the counter. We need to be alert to transition."

Nathan nodded. Transition. That was the key.

The atmosphere at Old Trafford was electric, a packed house expecting another dominant display. The roar as the teams walked out was deafening, a sea of red cheering on their champions.

Pheeeeeep! The whistle blew, and the Premier League clash was underway.

West Ham, true to form, started defensively, forming a compact shape, forcing United to circulate the ball patiently. They were disciplined, denying space in the central areas, making it hard for Nathan and Bruno Fernandes to thread passes through.

United dominated possession, but it was slow, probing football. Nathan tried to use his Masterful Dribbling and Unparalleled Agility (from Glide of Messi (68%)) to break through, but West Ham's midfield and defense were organized, quickly swarming any United player who ventured too deep.

Minute 22. West Ham, against the run of play, scored. A United attack broke down on the edge of the box. Tomáš Souček immediately won the ball, launching a long, pinpoint pass to Jarrod Bowen, who had started his run from deep. Bowen sprinted past Luke Shaw, cut inside, and fired a powerful shot past David de Gea.

Manchester United 0 - West Ham 1.

Old Trafford groaned in frustration. It was a classic counter-attack goal, precisely what Erik ten Hag had warned them about. Nathan felt the familiar sting of conceding, particularly to such a clinical break. They needed to stop these counters, not just defensively, but by immediately turning defense into attack, by stifling West Ham's transitions before they even began.

Just then, the familiar System chime cut through the air, sharp and clear.

Ding!

[System Notification]

[Your team is vulnerable to rapid counter-attacks, requiring immediate ball recovery and a strategic counter-press to maintain offensive momentum.]

[You may request one random legendary counter-pressing/transition skill in the style of a football icon to stifle opposition breaks and instantly turn defensive moments into offensive opportunities.]

[Do you wish to activate it?]

Nathan's eyes narrowed. Counter-pressing? Instant offensive opportunities? This was it. This was about not just reacting, but acting before the opposition could settle. This was about controlling the chaotic moments of transition, something the "Revolutionary Roles" and "Omnipresent Maestros" were masters of.

Yes! Activate!

Ding!

[Random Skill Activated: Counter-Pressing Instinct of Cruyff]

[Effect: For the next 5 minutes of in-game time, your immediate reaction to losing possession, your ability to quickly close down opponents, and your foresight in triggering collective counter-pressing are significantly enhanced. You will regain possession faster and launch immediate, devastating counter-attacks.]

A new kind of hyper-awareness washed over Nathan. It wasn't just about his position, but about the immediate reaction of everyone around him when the ball was lost. He saw the optimal angles to close down, the perfect moments to initiate a collective press, suffocating the opponent before they could even think of breaking. He felt like a coiled spring, ready to snap into action the instant possession changed hands.

A moment later, United pushed forward. Nathan played a pass to Marcus Rashford, who tried to dribble past Vladimir Coufal, but lost the ball. Instantly, before Coufal could even look up to pass, Nathan, fueled by the Counter-Pressing Instinct of Cruyff, was on him. He didn't tackle; he simply closed the space, harried, and forced Coufal to play a desperate, loose pass backward. Lucas Paquetá, receiving the pass, was immediately swarmed by Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro, who had also reacted instinctively to Nathan's trigger.

The ball was won back, high up the pitch! Bruno Fernandes immediately played it to Nathan, who surged forward, straight into the heart of West Ham's defense. He saw the surprise on their faces.

He took two quick touches, then unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box. It flew past the defenders, dipping wildly, and slammed into the bottom corner, leaving Łukasz Fabiański with no chance.

GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAL!!!!

The net bulged! Manchester United 1 - West Ham 1! Old Trafford erupted in a thunderous roar, a mixture of relief and pure elation. Nathan screamed, pumping his fists, his teammates mobbing him. The Counter-Pressing Instinct of Cruyff had turned defense into an immediate, devastating attack.

The goal completely rattled West Ham. Their counter-attacks, once so sharp, were now being stifled before they could even begin. United, buoyed by the equalizer and Nathan's relentless pressing, pushed harder. Nathan felt the Counter-Pressing Instinct fade after five minutes, but the understanding of how to instantly react and trigger a collective counter-press was deeply ingrained.

Just before halftime, United took the lead. A brilliant run and cross from Diogo Dalot found Harry Kane, who nodded it powerfully past Fabiański, making it 2-1.

The second half was a test of United's ability to control the game. West Ham pushed for an equalizer, but United's high press and quick transitions, influenced by Nathan's earlier play, made it difficult for them.

Nathan continued to be a driving force, his Masterful Dribbling and Unparalleled Agility from his Glide of Messi (68%) mastery allowing him to retain possession under pressure and launch counter-attacks. He had several high-pressure dribbling situations.

Ding!

[System Notification]

[Skill Mastery Progress: Glide of Messi (71%)]

[Next Mastery Milestone: 75% (Requires extremely complex and successful solo runs in high-pressure scenarios).]

Getting closer, Nathan thought, a grin forming. Almost there for the next permanent boost.

The final minutes of the match were tense. West Ham threw everything forward, but United's defense held firm. David de Gea made a crucial save from a Declan Rice long shot in the 88th minute.

The final whistle blew.

MANCHESTER UNITED 2 - WEST HAM UNITED 1!

Old Trafford cheered, celebrating a hard-fought win that kept their Premier League title challenge strong.

In the jubilant changing room, Erik ten Hag was highly impressed. "That first goal, Nathan! The way you won that ball back and scored... that's the mentality of champions! You stifled them!"

Nathan, breathless but beaming, just grinned. "Just trying to turn defense into attack, boss."

He checked his system.

[Overall Rating: S+]

Still S+. The Glide of Messi mastery was pushing towards its next milestone at 71%. And the Counter-Pressing Instinct of Cruyff had shown him a new, crucial way to influence the game's tempo and transitions.

As he walked out of Old Trafford, the cheers of the fans feeling warm and familiar, a new thought solidified in his mind, influenced by the Legacy Archive and the match he'd just played. He was the GOAT, capable of individual brilliance, tactical manipulation, and now, even redefining the moments of transition. But there was one final, elusive aspect of game-changing influence, a rare ability that few players truly mastered: the power to truly control the flow of football itself, to be the ultimate tempo-setter, both in attack and defense.

Ding!

[Legacy Archive Update: New Category Unlocked - "The Tempo Dictators and Game Managers"]

[Description: Explore the elite players who possessed an unparalleled understanding of the game's rhythm, accelerating and decelerating play at will, masterfully controlling the speed and direction of attacks and defenses, effectively turning matches into their personal symphony.]