From Arsenal to the Ball God

”What’s going on with him?”

The team’s right back, Sagna, glanced at him and frowned at the left back, Gibbs, beside him and said, ”Is it necessary?”

”Who knows.”

Gibbs shook his head, glanced at Mr. Wenger, and noticed that he also observed the situation, sending Philip to Fabregas’s seat with a stern expression.

”Why are you sitting here?”

Philip subsequently went to sit next to Fabregas. Since the conflict in the player tunnel erupted between Wenger and Fabregas after the match, they had already torn their faces.

”To be a spectator, of course.”

Fabregas was still wearing Arsenal’s training gear, casually saying, ”I’ve reported my injuries to the club for a long time, afraid to miss the club’s training sessions, so I came to watch and observe, isn’t that okay?”

”Don’t be ridiculous.”

Philip, being the first assistant coach, held a high position in the club. Since Wenger had already fallen out with Fabregas, he wouldn’t show him any kindness either.

With a few traces of disgust in his eyes, he sternly said, ”If you’re not training, please leave the field. If you don’t want to leave, then don’t make any noise.”

Fabregas shrugged, staring straight ahead, neither refusing nor agreeing, adopting a ’dead pig not afraid of boiling water’ kind of attitude.

He was different from those who had nothing, he was quite proud, and felt very confident and comfortable with himself.

Thinking back... at 21, he became Arsenal’s captain, won the European Cup the same year, and then clinched the World Cup two years later!

The peak Dream Three undisguisedly expressed their desire and pursuit for him, not hesitating to bear some infamy, they wanted to recruit him to the team.

What kind of player was he?

Even he couldn’t really say... but one thing was certain, comparing him with Ma’el and Gilbert was an insult to him.

He wanted to regain the face lost in the player tunnel that day, and before leaving, would unleash the grievances suffered in front of Wenger onto those two young players valued by Wenger.

And tell everyone, comparing those two young players with him was impossible!

......

In the upcoming two-on-two offensive and defensive training, Ma’el and Gilbert were grouped together. Wenger seemed to believe the two had some experience partnering and more tacit understanding.

”I’m afraid I’ll drag you down.”

Gilbert looked worried, he inherently lacked self-confidence, and after being sarcastically applauded by Fabregas, felt even a bit of withdrawal.

”It’s okay.”

Ma’el glanced at Fabregas sitting far away, with a few traces of disgust rising in his heart, he comforted Gilbert, ”Don’t mind what others think, just show your best self.”

”Okay...” Gilbert’s reply wasn’t particularly firm, putting on the team vest and standing next to Ma’el.

”Beep!” With a whistle from Wenger, multiple venues started the two-on-two training simultaneously, Ma’el and Gilbert’s opponents were Vermaelen and Koscielny.

At the moment, Koscielny sported sharp red hair styled in a fauxhawk, looking extremely aggressive and strong in attack.

He and Vermaelen rushed over together, the two center-backs partnering in the Premier League had already achieved a good level of tacit understanding.

As soon as Ma’el passed the ball to Gilbert, they quickly squeezed the space and surrounded him, blocking him in the corner and deftly poking the ball out of bounds.

”Bang!” An assistant quickly passed a football to Gilbert’s feet.

Suppressing his inner tension, Gilbert took two steps towards Koscielny, promptly passing the ball to Ma’el beside him.

Guarding closely, Vermaelen swiftly followed, wanting to quickly complete the defensive position in front of Ma’el, applying a certain amount of pressure.

”Bang!” Noticing Vermaelen’s aggressive pursuit, Ma’el didn’t keep the ball at his feet to slowly grind it, but instead propelled it explosively to the back of Vermaelen the moment he received it.

Player-ball split!

Kicking up, he accelerated explosively within the limited space, bypassing Vermaelen to chase after the football.

Vermaelen didn’t anticipate this move, nor Ma’el’s speed; just as he turned around, he saw Ma’el effortlessly overtake on his left side, collecting the ball ahead of him.

Successful breakthrough!

”So fast!” He smiled and exclaimed, turning away without regret.

In the subsequent defense, he adjusted his strategy, opting not to press high up on them, but instead keeping a distance, hanging back.

After all, it was about twenty-five square meters; he and Koscielny pressed and protected from front and back, nearly occupying the whole area, unafraid of anyone utilizing speed to burst through.

Ma’el and Gilbert’s breakthrough success rate lowered again, at times appearing slightly awkward.

”Scrape!”

In the last two-on-two offensive and defensive training, Koscielny delivered a clean and precise sliding tackle, kicking the ball from Gilbert’s feet out of the bounds of the offensive and defensive area.

It was a perfect defense!

”Clap clap clap....!” Applause resounded from the sidelines again, seemingly for Koscielny, but everyone knew what it truly expressed.

Fabregas teasingly sat there, even calling out several times, ”Great! That’s how it should be, let the young ones experience the intensity and difficulty of the Premier League!

”Letting them know early on that this isn’t a lower league is definitely beneficial; young people ought to have a clear understanding of themselves.

”Can’t think that just because they have decent stats in the Championship, they can necessarily transfer it to the Premier League; it’s a completely different place.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Wenger, seemingly no longer able to tolerate, turned furious, stepping quickly toward where Fabregas was seated.

Fabregas stood up from his chair, prepared for confrontation with Wenger.

”Mr. Wenger!”

Many assistants promptly followed, fearing a fierce conflict between the two, hoping to de-escalate the situation.

Training halted, and the players also converged toward the two’s location, most appearing complicated in expression, some with disgust, others more neutral.