Harbinger Of Glory

At the same time, Leo finished pulling his shirt on, but now things were different.

Before, he was coming on to help Wigan chase a goal.

Now, he was coming into a game where they were chasing a goal but were also doing so with a man down.

The responsibility had changed, and as he approached the sidelines, Dawson turned toward him and grabbed him by the shoulder.

”Listen.”

Leo looked directly at him.

”You control this midfield now.”

Dawson glanced toward the pitch.

”You have to keep us in the game and make them uncomfortable. Take your time but frustrate their attacks.”

Hearing that, Leo nodded.

”Understood,” he said as Dawson pulled him closer slightly.

Leo gave one final nod, and then he turned toward the pitch where Max Power was already walking back from the centre, and the commentator immediately picked up on the change.

”And here comes the substitution Wigan supporters have been waiting for.”

The camera followed Leo as he stepped onto the field.

”Leo Calderon is coming on.”

The crowd erupted behind the broadcast as the commentary went on.

”The 18-year-old has been one of the League’s standout performers this season, and despite his age, he has become one of the most important players in this team.”

The co-commentator laughed quietly.

”You know, I always wonder what certain supporters are thinking whenever this kid plays.”

The commentator smiled.

”I think I know where you’re going with that.”

”There must be a fanbase somewhere watching this thinking, ’How did we let him go?’ Because every time he steps onto a football pitch, he seems to make something happen.”

Leo, after getting on, quickly slotted into the team setup.

The free kick was about to be taken, so he immediately began organising.

”Joe, stay there.”

He pointed toward Bennett.

”Don’t come too high and wait for the second ball.”

Then he turned.

”Jake, stay between the centre-backs. You are tall. Clear it or leave it for Amos!”

The players responded, and a moment later, they were glad they did as the referee blew his whistle.

Tottenham delivered the free kick into the box.

But Bennett, positioned exactly where Leo had instructed, stepped forward and intercepted the ball before Richarlison could claim it.

The ball dropped toward him, and without waiting, he held onto it.

The Spurs shape pushed forward, looking to win the ball back then and there, but Bennett held on and allowed Wigan’s shape to recover.

Then he finally played it forward towards his right where Leo had settled.

The midfielder received it near the right side of the pitch, almost where Femi Seriki usually operated and pushed forward with a single touch.

Immediately, Tottenham reacted.

Richarlison, seeing the danger, rushed to Leo’s side as the latter nudged the ball once more.

Then suddenly, the Brazilian slid in.

There was barely any attempt to win the ball, as Richarlison simply desired to stop the counter.

The challenge caught Leo and sent him tumbling over the sideline, and once again, the referee’s whistle halted the game as though the home side weren’t particularly pleased with the challenge.

”That is a cynical challenge,” the commentator said.

”Richarlison knew exactly what he was doing there.”

The referee approached as Richarlison stood up, and he did not protest much.

He knew what was on the way before the yellow card came out.

The Tottenham forward simply walked away shaking his head.

Leo, on the other hand, remained on the ground for a second before getting back up.

He simply picked up the ball as the Spurs players backed away.

The referee gestured for him to continue, and in the next second, Leo played it backwards, straight to Ben Amos.

The goalkeeper took one touch and then grabbed the ball as Son immediately pressed.

The stadium watched as Amos lifted his head, looked upfield and found Leo, who was somehow quickly recentered.

The midfielder was already moving, already creating an option.

Amos released it, and when the ball left his hand, Leo began dropping into space.

For a moment, it looked familiar.

Because this was a role Leo knew.

Before he became the player everyone talked about for his goals, his runs, and his attacking moments, there was this version of him.

The controller

.

The player who dictated from deeper areas.

At Wigan’s U21S, he had often played as a single pivot.

Italy U21 had used him there too.

Even in that international match against Ukraine, he had been trusted to sit deep and control possession mainly alone.

But once he became a professional, Dawson had built the midfield around balance and set Tiehi alongside him.

A player who covered ground.

A player who handled the physical battles, and that freedom allowed Leo to focus on creating.

Now, with Wigan down to ten men, that safety net was gone.

Now he had to do both, and he wasn’t going to shirk from it.

The ball came toward him and with it came Maddison, who followed closely behind.

The Tottenham midfielder expected Leo to control it.

Everyone did, but Leo had already decided otherwise and wasn’t going to do something that everyone expected.

He moved toward the ball as if preparing for his first touch, but then he stopped as the ball bounced right at his feet.

Instead of bringing it down, he allowed it to continue, and at the same time, Leo shifted his body sideways and spun, forcing Maddison, who had committed to try and turn, but he was too late.

The ball bounced over him, and Leo spun around and collected it on the other side.

The crowd reacted immediately, also caught off guard by the sudden move by Leo.

”Ohhhhh, that’s wonderful by Calderon. Magnificent play by the teenager,” the commentary said, but Leo was now driving forward.

A/N: Another GT Chapter. Also, I have seen that you guys tend to give me too many when I release these Chapters. I’m thankful but please hold onto them until I finish giving you the ones you lack. I just checked and I think I owe you two or three more GT Chapters after this!