Mindset II

David woke up the morning after returning home, his mind still clouded with the aftermath of the Middlesbrough match. The draw had left him feeling unsettled. The missed chances. The pressure of trying to live up to expectations. He rolled over in bed, staring at the ceiling, unsure of how to shake the unease that had settled into his chest. At just 16 years old, David had already become one of the youngest players to ever sign for Derby County, but with that came an overwhelming weight—a constant feeling that he had to prove himself, match after match.

After a few moments, David realized he couldn't just lie there, brooding. He needed to clear his head. Jogging had always been a way for him to escape the pressures of football, a time when he could focus on nothing but his own thoughts. With a heavy sigh, he pulled himself out of bed, threw on his joggers, and laced up his sneakers. The morning air was crisp, the kind that seemed to reset his mind the moment he stepped outside.

David jogged through the unfamiliar streets of Derby, taking in the new sights and sounds. He wasn't quite used to the city yet, the streets still feeling like a foreign landscape despite the excitement of his new life here. As he jogged, his thoughts kept drifting back to the match the day before—the mistakes he made, the chances he missed, and the weight of playing for a club with such a rich history and passionate fanbase. He couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't living up to what people expected of him.

As he ran through an unfamiliar part of town, David spotted a group of teenagers gathered on an open patch of grass. They were playing a pickup game of football—five-a-side. The makeshift goals were marked by jackets, and the energy of the game was infectious. David slowed his jog, watching the game for a moment. The laughter, the competitive spirit—it reminded him of what football used to be for him.

One of the boys, a teenager with a messy haircut, spotted David as he jogged by. His face lit up with recognition.

"Wait… is that David Jones? The new wonderkid from Derby County?"

David's heart skipped a beat. He wasn't used to being recognized outside the stadium. In the blink of an eye, several other teens had noticed him and rushed over.

"No way, it's him!" one of them shouted.

David smiled awkwardly, unsure of how to handle the sudden attention. "Hey, guys," he said, trying to remain grounded. "How's the game going?"

One of the younger kids, a smaller boy wearing a red-and-white scarf, bounced up to him. "We're winning, but we could use a little help. You're the reason we started following Derby County! We saw you play, and now we're all huge fans."

David chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm just a kid like you guys," he said, trying to downplay his status. "But yeah, it's cool to hear that."

The teens, eager to make the most of the moment, began chanting, "Come play with us, David! Show us what you've got!"

David hesitated. He wasn't used to playing with people who weren't his teammates, and he wasn't sure if he had the energy for a game right now. But the enthusiasm in their voices was hard to resist. For once, he just wanted to play without any expectations.

"Alright, alright," David said, finally giving in. "I'll join for a bit."

The group erupted into cheers, and David jogged onto the field, the weight of professional football momentarily forgotten. Here, on this small patch of grass, he was just another player—no scouts, no media, no pressure. Just football.

The teens started introducing themselves as they organized the teams.

"I'm Leo," the boy with the messy hair said, offering a hand. "Big Derby fan. You've been a huge inspiration to us."

"Nice to meet you, Leo," David said, shaking his hand.

"I'm Max," another teen said, wearing a blue jersey with the name "Rooney" on the back. "I've been watching you since your first match. I know you're gonna do great things for Derby."

David smiled, nodding. "Thanks, Max. I'm just trying to learn and grow."

"I'm Tom," added a tall boy with a wide grin. "You're a legend already, man. Let's see what you've got!"

"Alright, let's play!" Leo called out, and the game began.

David found himself slipping back into the rhythm of the game effortlessly. It was just like he remembered, except with a new twist. He wasn't thinking about his professional status or his next big match—he was just playing, enjoying the ball at his feet again.

The ball came to him, and without thinking, he controlled it with a deft touch, dribbling past one defender, then another. The third defender lunged but David faked him out, sending him off-balance. With a quick glance, David saw the goalkeeper standing between the two jackets that marked the goalposts, slightly off to one side. Without hesitation, David aimed low, placing a perfectly timed shot into the space between the jackets, where the goalkeeper had been too slow to react. The ball nestled into the "net," causing the crowd to explode in cheers.

The crowd of teens erupted into applause. David's teammates swarmed him, clapping him on the back, but David wasn't paying attention to them. He was lost in the moment, in the joy of the game. For the first time in a while, he felt truly free.

As he jogged back to position, his mind began to clear. For the first time in days, David wasn't thinking about the pressure of his role at Derby County. He wasn't worrying about the expectations that came with being the new wonderkid. He was simply playing for the love of the game. No scouts. No cameras. Just the joy of football.

David started to dribble again, picking up the ball and running past two more defenders with ease. The crowd cheered him on, but David wasn't focused on them. He was focused on himself, on the thrill of playing the game. As he lined up for another shot on goal, his body knew exactly what to do. With a powerful strike, he sent the ball flying into the corner of the net.

The teens screamed with excitement. But David wasn't paying attention to their praise. He was smiling to himself, feeling more alive than he had in a long time. He remembered something Rooney had told him: "Your life can't revolve around football alone."

David shook his head, dismissing the thought. Football is my life. Everything else just revolves around it. He was finally starting to realize it—his life, his identity, everything he did, it was all tied to the game.

The match ended with David's team winning 20-4. The teens were ecstatic, jumping up and down, celebrating. They surrounded him, thanking him for playing with them, offering high-fives and fist bumps. David nodded, smiling, but his mind was still buzzing from the game.

As he walked back home, his steps felt lighter. He had rediscovered something important during that match—not just his love for football, but the reason he played it in the first place. It wasn't about the media, the expectations, or even the fans. It was about the thrill of the game, the pure joy he felt when he played.

By the time he reached his house, David was filled with energy, a renewed sense of clarity. His mind was clear, and his resolve was stronger than ever. The weight of the past few days seemed to have lifted. He was ready for whatever came next. Football was his life. Everything else? It could wait.