Chapter 12- Attention! Liverpool!

We filed out of the team bus and walked toward the training center, it was only 5 pm and I was rearing to get a few hours of training and I wanted to drag Casi and Bruno with me. We were walking along when a journalist for "Manchester Today," came up to ask some questions.

"Adri!, Adrian Randin, may I have a quick interview please?"

I urged my friends to go to the pitch without me and set up for training and I stayed behind to talk to the balding man, he looked to be in his forties, "Adrian, you have inherited the legendary number seven and won the Manchester derby, but rumors are that other big clubs have been eyeing, you, there are talks of Madrid and Liverpool, interest, what are your thoughts on this?"

"Look mate, I stayed behind because I thought the questions were about the match, clubs can eye me all they want, but right now, I'm doing mighty well at United, and I haven't even played half a season yet, how can you ask that? Stop trying to turn me into a sensation alright, do you have any questions about the match? Then I'll be going." 

Some of these reporters had a way of getting on my nerves and jumping up and down on that single nerve repeatedly, the guy got what he deserved and I wasn't lying, this club has a rich history and I want to return it to its former glory. 

I walked down top training and got changed before running onto the pitch, everyone was there and I walked up to the huddle, as I approached the huddle, the players unraveled from their circular structure and looked at me, Erik Ten Hag was at the center, it looked like something was serious. And then they burst out laughing. 

"Look at how scared he got!" 

"HA HA very funny," I said, a bit disappointed in the team, they were getting cocky. 

"Don't worry Adri, we're not slacking off, the gaffer wanted to tell you summat!" said Malacia, slightly alarmed by the look on my face. 

"What's wrong Gaffer?" 

"Nothing much, I just don't think your position suits your ability..." 

But Gaffer, I've been doing very well in the midfield, am I doing something wrong?" 

"No Adri, I feel like your talent in pace and vision could be more useful on the right wing and I was thinking of moving Garnacho or Anthony to a left-mid or center-mid role while you played on the wing!"

I sighed before looking up and smiling, "I'm good anywhere Gaffer, whatever you say!" 

We all burst into laughter before the head coach came out and shouted at us all, including the manager for goofing off and told us to get back into drills immediately because we were facing the giants tommorow, Liverpool FC. 

We went home at about, 10 pm and I sort of relaxed as I drove through the loud Friday streets of Manchester, the familiar rhythmic, misfires from the barbarian G wagon of mine. I suddenly had an idea, I should go out with my mates. I immediately picked up my phone and texted in the group chat:

Adri<Boys, if we beat Liverpool, drinks on me!> 

Casi<I'd like that!>

Garnacho<Hell yeah!>

Bruno<Hey Alejandro, aren't you too young to drink, I'm in!>

Garnacho<@Bruno, I'm older than Adri, it's not my fault he's so mature> 

Everyone on the team agreed to meet up after the match, provided we won. Sleep was instantaneous after such a tiring day and I dreamt of lifting the premier league cup. 

Matchday...

Training center...

Playing Liverpool at Old Trafford was a huge advantage and we advertised the match heavily on a gamble and it sort of worked, Liverpool fans were scarce, I would say ninety percent of the stadium was Red Devil fans...

I can't lie, even with the home advantage, I felt like there was immense pressure to succeed. My new position on the wing meant there were some adjustments and I feared that these don't just happen overnight. 

For the first time, since academy football, I was at the right flank of the pitch, nowhere near the ball during kick-off, it was kind of weird, the pitch shift, but the vision helped me settle in, I could see all my usual routes, they all just had different entrances, but they still went to the same position.

I watched as Rasmus kicked the ball off, and Bruno back-heeled to Casi who passed back to Maguire who was filling in for Malacia, who picked up a red card. Harry played the ball to Dalot who was met with the advantage of Luis Diaz of Liverpool, Dalot was forced to play to Garnacho who was playing LCM, and I must say, this was the best play I've seen him do, I watched as he curled the ball around the outside and past Robertson who was marking me, I accelerated onto the ball and cut into the penalty area were I was met with one of the scariest defenders in the premier league, Virgil Van Djik. 

Van Djik:

Pos: CB

OVR: 88

Pac: 80

Sho: 80

Dri: 85

Pas: 95

Phy: 94

Def: 97

I wanted to play it safe but passing to Bruno would still result in a defensive block as I watched mMaip getting ready to charge, dribbling it is... 

He looked down at me, a 6ft 5in behemoth, my 6ft ass was shaking in my boots, but then I realized, I have such a long career ahead of me, how will I get better if I don't take chances and be brave. I put my foot down hard to the left and got ready as if to shoot the ball and instinctively the big man lunged, there was an opening and I nutmegged him, the Van Djik himself, I jumped over this outstretched leg, just me vs Allison or was it, as Allison rushed to take the ball from me I slipped it to the ever speedy Rasmus Hojlund who smashed it into the open net. 

Rasmus and I climbed on the railings stood arms out wide in front of the fans, and shouted, "Come ON Devils, Shout LOUDER!" 

The roar picked up after this and it still hadn't died down even when Liverpool kicked off and set play into motion again... 

Alexis Macallister got the ball and shifted the play to Endo before rushing past Bruno receiving the preconceived through ball and darting into space, threading the ball to Luis Diaz on the far right, Nunez looked available, but there were too many bodies in the way and seeing the threat I rushed backward and teamed up with Dalot to block Diaz. 

I opened my legs slightly taking a gamble, I was right, Diaz attempted to nutmeg me and run past but I turned as soon as the ball went past my feet, pulled it back, and nutmegged the running Diaz and began running forwards again, Robertson however appeared from nowhere, barreling into the ball, it was loose, the tackle was clean. 

1 minute left of the first half... 

"Hold them OFF!" I screamed to no avail. 

Robbo executed a lob over the head of Maguire and Martinez and I watched helplessly from the floor as the ball fell at Diaz's feet. 

Bang!

Woosh! 

Smash! 

"Oh, what a block from Harry Maguire!" screamed the commentators, however, the threat wasn't over and we were punished by Jota who headed the ball into the net as the whistle went. I want my old position back. Damn. 

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