God Of football

Chapter 392: Pre-Season Conference

As the final whistle blew and Arsenalʼs players exchanged handshakes with their Liverpool counterparts, Izan was already making his move.

Some players stayed behind to soak in the applause or engage in post-match interviews.

But Izan swiftly navigated past the oncoming reporters, cutting through the crowd with a determined stride toward the tunnel.

”And there goes Izan Hernandez—absolutely no interest in sticking around,” Peter Drury chuckled. ”If you want a word from him, you better start running.”

Lee Dixon laughed. ”Honestly, if he plays football the way he dodges reporters, no wonder Liverpool couldnʼt lay a finger on him tonight.”

The cameras caught some of the crowd laughing, a few Arsenal fans even playfully mimicking Izanʼs quick getaway.

One Liverpool fan near the tunnel held up a sign that read: ”Izan, blink twice if Arteta is holding you hostage!”

As Izan disappeared into the tunnel, the SoFi crowd cheered once more, a mix of admiration and amusement.

And in the commentary booth, Druryʼs voice carried the final word: ”He ran the game for ninety minutes, and now heʼs running from the press. What a night for Izan Hernandez.”

...….

Izan burst into the dressing room, nodding absentmindedly at a few of his teammates on the bench who had arrived before him.

He slowed until every eye wasnʼt on him before making a beeline for the washroom.

His pace wasnʼt quite as urgent as when heʼd been dodging defenders—or reporters—but it was getting there.

As soon as he stepped inside, he hesitated for a moment, then swiftly pushed open one of the stalls, locking himself in with a sigh.

”Did I get food poisoning?” he muttered to himself, staring blankly at the door in front of him like it held the answer.

Outside, a few of the other players were already talking about what was next, but Izan was on a completely different battlefield now.

...…

Izan stepped out of the stall, letting out a deep sigh as he made his way to the showers.

He twisted the knob, and warm water cascaded over him, washing away the grime and sweat from the grueling match.

His muscles, sore from the endless running and battles, finally relaxed under the soothing spray.

”What a game. If thatʼs how every battle with a top 6 team in the EPL is going to be, then I might have to stock up on the conditioning fluids,” he muttered to himself, running a hand through his damp hair.

It had been a chaotic ninety minutes, full of fouls, fights, and fire, and now that it was over, all he wanted was to unwind.

As he lathered up, he replayed certain moments in his mind—the goals, the battles, the mistakes.

He could still hear the roar of the crowd when he had torn through Liverpoolʼs midfield.

The groans when Endo had dispossessed him, and the booming laughter when he made a swift exit past reporters.

Even in a preseason match, there was no such thing as a quiet game when he was involved.

Finishing up, he stepped out, wrapping a towel around his waist before heading to his locker.

The dressing room was still lively, with some of the boys still in their kits and others chatting away or scrolling through their phones.

Saliba and Gabriel were talking animatedly about one of their duels with Núñez, while Rice was sitting on the bench, shaking his head at something Ødegaard had said.

Izan barely paid attention as he toweled off, changed into a clean Arsenal tracksuit, and sat on the bench, running another towel over his damp hair.

He checked his phone, expecting a flood of messages about the game, when suddenly,

The door swung open.

The room went still for a second as Arteta strode in with purpose, scanning the space with a look that meant business.

His sharp eyes moved from player to player before landing on Izan, who, to his misfortune, was the only one fully dressed and ready.

”Thatʼs what I like to see,” Arteta announced, loud enough for everyone to hear.

His voice carried an air of satisfaction. ”Professional. Prepared. Some of you could learn from him.”

A chorus of groans and playful complaints erupted from the dressing room.

”Gaffer, you donʼt see me? I was about to get up!” Declan Rice protested, still sitting with one boot on and one-off.

”Man, let me finish my drink first,” Trossard added, holding up a water bottle.

Izan smirked but said nothing, already wary of whatever was coming next; Arteta wasnʼt the type to hand out praise without a reason.

”Come on,” the manager said, clapping a firm hand on Izanʼs shoulder. ”Youʼre coming with me to the press conference.”

Izan blinked. ”Wait, what?”

”You heard me. Letʼs go.”

”Gaffer, come on, I just showered,” Izan tried, glancing at his teammates for backup. None came.

”Exactly. Youʼre fresh, youʼre presentable—unlike the rest of them.” Arteta turned to the room. ”Some of you should take notes.”

Laughter broke out across the dressing room. Zinchenko shook his head, grinning.

”Tough luck, bro,” Gabriel teased.

”Better you than me,” Havertz muttered with a smirk.

Arteta had already made up his mind, and once that happened, arguing was pointless.

”Fine,” Izan muttered, standing up.

Arteta patted his back. ”Thatʼs the spirit. Letʼs go.”

As he was dragged towards the door, he could hear his teammates laughing and calling after him.

”Make sure you shout us out!”

”Tell them I was the best player today!”

”Try not to cause another fight with any Liverpool players in the press room, eh?”

Izan just shook his head and walked on.

The room was buzzing when Arteta and Izan entered, the murmur of journalists filling the air as camera flashes flickered.

They took their seats, microphones adjusted, and within seconds, the moderator gestured for the first question.

(The Athletic). Mikel, first of all, congratulations on the win. Preseason or not, a victory over Liverpool is always significant. What are your thoughts on the game?”

Arteta: ”Thank you. It was a very competitive game, exactly what we needed at this stage of preseason.

We saw a lot of good things, but also areas where we need to improve. Liverpool is a fantastic team, and they pushed us hard, but Iʼm pleased with how we responded.”

(BBC Sport). Izan, you were heavily involved in all three goals today—another free kick, two assists. You also scored against Manchester United in the preseason and impressed against Leverkusen. How do you feel about your performances so far?”

Izan leaned closer to the mic, choosing his words carefully. ”I feel good. Itʼs still preseason, so weʼre all working towards full match sharpness, but I think Iʼve settled in well.

Each game has been a different challenge—United, Leverkusen, and now Liverpool. I just try to contribute however I can.”

(Sky Sports): ”Speaking of those different challenges, youʼve now faced top teams from England and Germany in a short span.

Based on what youʼve experienced, how do you compare playing against Premier League opposition versus a team like Leverkusen?”

Izan thought for a second before answering. ”Itʼs different. The Premier League teams press higher and faster, and the physicality is next-level.

United was more structured defensively, Liverpool played with intensity for the full ninety minutes, while Leverkusen was very technical.

But in the end, itʼs about adapting. Every team has weaknesses—you just have to find them.”

(ESPN)Youʼve had a taste of English football now, but do you think youʼre fully prepared for whatʼs to come in the league? Players have talked about how relentless it is compared to other leagues.”

Izan gave a small nod. ”I understand that, and I wonʼt pretend I know exactly whatʼs coming until Iʼm in the middle of it.

But I came here because I wanted this challenge. I know there will be tough moments, but thatʼs what makes it exciting. The best players thrive under pressure.”

(Goal): ”Your set-piece ability has been a major talking point. You scored that free kick against United, and now another one against Liverpool. Is that something youʼve always been confident in?”

Izan smirked slightly. ”Iʼve always practiced them, yeah. Had a few of them at Valencia. At the end of the day, itʼs about repetition, understanding how the ball moves, and trusting yourself in the moment. If I get the chance, I back myself to take it.”

(The Guardian): ”Your assists today demonstrated your vision and passing range. How do you approach your role within the team? Are you aiming to take on a more playmaking role this season?

Izan shrugged. ”I donʼt focus on labels. If I see a pass, I play it. If I need to drive forward, I will.

It depends on the situation. The most important thing is making the right decisions for the team.”

(CBS Sports): ”With the season approaching, what are your personal goals? Any targets youʼve set for yourself?”

Izan paused, considering the question. ”I donʼt like setting numbers because football isnʼt predictable.

What I can say is that I want to be consistent. I want to contribute in big moments.

I want to help this team compete at the highest level. If I do that, everything else will follow.”

Arteta nodded approvingly beside him.

(Football London): ”Mikel, last question—how do you see Izan fitting into this Arsenal squad for the upcoming season?”

Arteta smiled. ”Izan has already shown what heʼs capable of, but there is so much more to come.

He has adapted well, and his mentality is exactly what we want. He will be very important for us this season.”

The moderator wrapped things up, and Arteta gave Izan a pat on the back as they stood to leave.

”Good answers,” he murmured as they stepped away from the cameras.

Izan just smirked, exhaling slightly.

He was finally done with the questions—now all that was left was to let his football do the talking when the real season began.