Chapter 18: Crossing LV2 and Step Over LV2!

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Crossing is out!

Maël let out a long breath. After an hour of monotonous practice, he finally managed to level up his Crossing skill.

As the utility description stated, for a Winger, Crossing is an absolutely crucial ability.

A Winger who can't Cross is essentially hobbling along with one leg.

As soon as they get the ball, the opponent knows they will either Cut-In or Back Pass, making it easy to defend against.

Even Arjen Robben, famous for his Cut-In Shooting, has a decent Crossing ability, occasionally using it to mislead defenders.

The key is that defenders must follow, because if they give Arjen Robben the chance to aim and Cross, breaking through their defense is not difficult.

This is also one reason for Arjen Robben's high Cut-In success rate.

Defenders can't afford to let either side go, and sometimes a moment of hesitation or nervousness is all it takes for Arjen Robben to Cut-In and shoot.

"I'll aim to get Crossing to LV3 before the season starts, on par with Long Shot," Maël planned, envisioning the future. "Then, even in the Championship League, I won't be intimidated."

Seizing opportunities to take shots, or passing from the wing when the timing isn't right, would be beneficial for the team.

Considering this, getting playing time shouldn't be too difficult.

Gradually adapting to the Championship League, he would then compete for a starting position. Once he secured a starting role, he would strive to produce impressive statistics, building his reputation and value at Sheffield United.

The world is eager to hear stories of young talent.

Although Maël isn't in a rush, he knows that progress must be made step by step. However, he still hopes to move a bit faster.

"Let's keep going."

Maël didn't think much about it and walked over to Gilbert. "Let's do one-on-one. We'll practice Crossing next time."

He wanted to level up the Dribbling Skill he had planned. Once he had a breakthrough skill, he wouldn't be in a hurry to learn new ones.

Once these skills reached around LV3, along with his Strength at LV3, he could focus on coordination and speed training to make himself more comfortable on the wing.

"Let's go."

Gilbert, having just experienced a moment of enlightenment, was now convinced of Maël's training methods. He lowered his center of gravity and stood in front of Maël. "I'm not good at defending; it's my weakness.

"You can use me to practice, and I can learn how to tackle from you."

Maël hesitated for a moment. Through his training in Shooting and passing, he realized that each major skill category likely had many subcategories.

For example, Shooting isn't just about powerful Long Shots with the instep; there are also Volleys, Header Shots, and Bending Shots. The same goes for passing.

Dribbling Skills are not just about dribbling.

This might be the category with the most subcategories, as there are many ways to beat an opponent.

So, how should he choose?

Common skills include Step Over, Marseille Turn, McGee Turn, and Fried Dumpling. He first considered his position.

As a Winger, the most common one-on-one scenarios are breaking through to the baseline or cutting inside.

The most suitable skills for these scenarios are Step Over and Step Over. Skills like Marseille Turn wouldn't be as useful.

Narrowing down his choices, Maël considered the elegance of the moves.

The answer was clear: Step Over!

"Thump, thump...!"

Maël dribbled the ball with his feet and ran towards Gilbert, first circling the ball with his left leg, then his right.

"Snap!"

Gilbert extended his foot and cleanly intercepted the ball from Maël.

Maël lost his balance and stumbled awkwardly, almost falling. After regaining his composure, he picked up the ball and started cycling his legs in front of Gilbert.

Again and again, he was intercepted, and again and again, he made mistakes.

Sweat began to gather on his face, dripping down, some even falling into his eyes, causing him great discomfort.

Gilbert couldn't bear to watch anymore and offered advice. "Why don't you try a different move?

"Your cycling is really awkward. Not just me, but even Mr. Wenger could intercept it.

"If you add more variety, it would be harder for me to defend. Defense is my weakness."

Maël waved his hand and resumed his cycling training, varying the number of cycles to keep Gilbert from getting bored.

Another twenty minutes passed, and Gilbert mechanically intercepted the ball again and again. This time, he was genuinely puzzled, unable to grasp the reasoning behind it.

"Snap!"

Until he intercepted Maël again, Maël stopped, wiped the sweat from his face, and lay down on the ground.

Gilbert sat beside him, rubbing his chin in thought. He was a reflective person.

After a while, he suddenly looked up. "Could it be physical training?"

Maël: "..."

[Skill: Step Over LV1]

[Proficiency: (43/100)]

[Effect: As an attacking player, dribbling and beating opponents is a skill you must master. You have started to practice the Step Over move, but the results are minimal. You yearn for the day it will level up.]

Over the next few days, the two of them continuously traveled between their residence and the training ground, gradually becoming familiar with their surroundings.

Sheffield is an industrial city, still retaining many buildings and factories from the last century, giving it a retro feel when walking through the streets.

However, it is also known as a university town, with fresh faces from around the world coming to study, bringing a vibrant and energetic atmosphere.

You could even call it a sports city.

The names of Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday are renowned throughout European football.

Maël gradually adapted to life here. He has always been adaptable, and with Gilbert as a companion, he didn't feel lonely.

Before the players' assembly day, the two of them spent their days at the Sheffield United first-team training ground, practicing on the high-quality turf.

Johansson often accompanied them, seemingly quite free lately, probably because the club had no tasks for him.

July 8th, two days before the assembly day.

On the Sheffield United first-team training ground.

After a Crossing pass, Maël suddenly felt an unusual sensation in his right ankle and leg, causing him to involuntarily tense his foot and clench his knee.

[Skill: Curved Crossing LV2]

[Proficiency: (1/300)]

[Effect: After extensive practice, you gradually discover how to add a curve to your Crosses. In situations with minimal pressure and ample observation, you can occasionally deliver high-quality curved Crosses!]

"Thump! Thump!"

Maël didn't waste any time or marvel at the new skill. He immediately picked up the ball and tried a few shots.

Since they were practicing one-on-one, the conditions of minimal pressure and ample observation were met. His Crosses all accurately traced a banana shape, landing in front of Gilbert's forehead.

Gilbert didn't need to move much to complete a powerful header.

"The quality of those shots...?"

Gilbert was a bit dazed. As the person who practiced with Maël every day, he knew Maël's Crossing skills very well. "Did you have another moment of enlightenment? Just like with Step Over, you suddenly got much better a few days ago?"

"Not really, you just judged well and headed it well," Maël waved his hand, being very modest.

Step Over, with its high initial proficiency, had reached LV2 two days ago.

With Crossing reaching LV2 today, his skills saw another significant boost.

In total, he now possessed several skills: Skill: Powerful Shot (LV3), Skill: Physical Strength (LV2), Curved Crossing (LV2), and Skill: Continuous Step Over (LV2)!

"If all these skills reach LV3, I should be able to establish myself in the Championship League."

Maël lay down on the soft grass again, enjoying the feeling of the soft blades against his cheeks as he gazed at the blue sky.

Unnoticed by Maël, Gilbert raised his eyebrows several times, feeling his forehead, and then jumped a few times to test his jumping ability.

Finally, he spread his hands and looked at them, puzzled. "Could I have Aerial Dominance potential?"

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