8. Debut againts Chelsea U9 Team PT.1

If you want to read 20 Chapters ahead and more, be sure to check out my Patreon!!!

Go to https://www.patreon.com/Tang12

___________________________

As Francesco left the pitch that day, his mind was already focused on what lay ahead. Three weeks. Three weeks to prepare, to train harder than he ever had before, and to make sure that when the whistle blew in that friendly match, he would be ready.

Three weeks had passed since Coach Smith first mentioned the friendly match against Chelsea's U9 team. For Francesco, those weeks were intense but exhilarating. Each day at the academy had been filled with grueling training sessions, tactical drills, and countless hours of honing skills, both individually and as a team. Coach Smith pushed them to their limits, but it was exactly what they needed. Francesco could feel himself growing stronger, faster, and more in sync with his teammates.

Now, the day had arrived.

Francesco and his parents pulled up to the Arsenal Youth Academy's expansive training grounds. The sight of the immaculate pitch, with its perfectly trimmed grass, sent a jolt of excitement through him. His father, always supportive yet calm, turned to him from the driver's seat. "You ready, son?"

Francesco nodded, though inside, his nerves were swirling. "Yeah, I'm ready."

His mother smiled at him through the rearview mirror. "Just play like you always do. We're proud of you no matter what."

Francesco appreciated the reassurance, but he knew this match was about more than just making his parents proud. This was a chance to prove himself against one of the best youth teams in the country. A crowd had gathered around the pitch, filled with parents, scouts, and other spectators who had come to watch the game. Francesco could feel the pressure, but it also fueled his determination.

As soon as they parked, Francesco grabbed his gear and made his way to the changing room. His heart raced as he passed by groups of kids and parents. Some of the Chelsea U9 players were already there, warming up on the sidelines. They looked sharp, focused, and disciplined. This would be no easy game.

Francesco spotted Coach Smith standing with a few of his teammates near the entrance to the academy building.

"Francesco!" Coach Smith called, waving him over. "Glad you're here. Head in, get changed. We've got about twenty minutes before warm-ups."

Francesco nodded, giving a quick wave to his parents before hurrying into the changing room. Inside, the atmosphere buzzed with excitement and nervous energy. The boys were chatting, some laughing to release the tension, others quietly focused on the task ahead. Francesco quickly found his place, putting on the familiar red and white Arsenal academy kit. It felt right. It felt like home.

As he tied his laces, Danny plopped down next to him, his usual grin plastered across his face. "You ready for this? It's going to be big."

Francesco smirked. "Yeah. I've been waiting for this all week."

"Well, let's give Chelsea a show they won't forget," Danny said, standing up and stretching. "Just follow the plan, stick to what we've been working on."

Francesco nodded. He knew their plan was solid. Coach Smith had drilled it into them: control the midfield, play with pace on the wings, and make quick, decisive passes. If they stuck to their game, they had a good shot at winning.

Once the boys were changed, they headed out to the field for warm-ups. The crowd had grown by now, and Francesco could spot his parents in the stands, sitting among a cluster of other families. The cheers and murmurs of the spectators created a steady hum in the background as Coach Smith led them through their warm-up drills. Passing exercises, sprints, and dynamic stretches to get their muscles firing. Francesco could feel the adrenaline building in his veins, pushing away the last traces of nerves.

Soon, the Chelsea U9 team lined up on the opposite end of the pitch. They looked formidable, decked out in their deep blue kits, moving with the kind of precision and sharpness that comes from being part of one of the best football academies in the world. But Francesco didn't let that intimidate him. He knew his team was just as capable.

"Alright, boys," Coach Smith called as they gathered around him for a final pep talk. "You've trained hard for this. Now it's time to show what you're made of. Stick to our plan, trust your teammates, and play with confidence. Remember, this is a friendly, but that doesn't mean we're going easy. Play to win. Let's get out there and show Chelsea what Arsenal is all about."

Francesco stood at the edge of the huddle, absorbing every word. He looked around at his teammates—Danny, Will, and the others. They all had the same determined look in their eyes. This was their moment.

The referee blew the whistle, signaling for the game to begin. Francesco's team lined up in their familiar 4-3-3 formation, with Francesco once again taking his place on the left wing. Danny anchored the midfield, with Will leading the attack as the central striker. Francesco took a deep breath, his mind focused entirely on the game ahead.

The first few minutes were tense. Chelsea's U9 team moved the ball with crisp precision, their midfielders controlling the tempo and dictating the flow of the game. Francesco's team, however, held their own, pressing high and closing down space whenever Chelsea tried to advance.

It didn't take long for Francesco to get involved. In the seventh minute, Danny intercepted a pass in midfield and quickly sent the ball out wide to Francesco. With his first touch, Francesco pushed the ball forward, sprinting down the left wing with speed. The Chelsea right-back moved to close him down, but Francesco was ready. He cut inside with a sharp feint, leaving the defender trailing behind.

He scanned the box as he dribbled closer to the goal, looking for Will. Will was making a run toward the near post, battling with the Chelsea center-back for position. Francesco saw the opportunity and crossed the ball low and hard, aiming for Will's feet.

But the Chelsea goalkeeper was quick off his line, diving forward to smother the ball before Will could get a foot on it. Close, but not quite.

"Unlucky!" Danny shouted from the midfield, clapping his hands in encouragement.

Francesco jogged back to his position, his heart still pounding. It was a good start, but they needed to capitalize on their chances if they wanted to stay in the game.

Chelsea responded with pressure of their own. Their midfielders began to find pockets of space, and within a few minutes, they carved out their first real opportunity. A quick one-two pass between two of their forwards opened up space on the edge of the box, and a Chelsea attacker unleashed a powerful shot toward the top corner.

Francesco watched in tense anticipation as the ball flew through the air. But Arsenal's goalkeeper was ready. With a spectacular leap, he tipped the ball over the crossbar, saving a sure goal.

The crowd erupted in applause, and Francesco could hear his parents cheering from the stands. The close call only fueled the intensity of the match.

For the next ten minutes, the game was a back-and-forth battle. Both teams had chances, but neither could find the back of the net. Francesco continued to work tirelessly down the left wing, linking up with Danny and Will whenever possible. Their chemistry was building, and Francesco could feel that a breakthrough was coming.

Finally, in the 25th minute, that breakthrough arrived.

Danny, once again controlling the midfield, spotted Francesco making a darting run behind the Chelsea right-back. With a perfectly timed pass, Danny sent the ball over the defense, curling it into Francesco's path. Francesco's first touch was sublime, cushioning the ball as he sprinted toward the box.

This time, instead of crossing, Francesco drove toward goal. The Chelsea goalkeeper rushed out to close him down, but Francesco stayed composed. With a quick cut to his left, he evaded the goalkeeper's challenge and, with his weaker foot, slotted the ball into the open net.

The crowd erupted, and Francesco's teammates rushed over to congratulate him. His heart raced with adrenaline and joy. Scoring in a game like this, against a team like Chelsea, felt like a dream.

But there was no time to celebrate for long. Chelsea kicked off, and the game continued with renewed intensity. The rest of the first half saw both teams battling fiercely for control, but neither side could break through again before the referee blew the whistle for halftime.

Francesco jogged off the pitch, breathing heavily but grinning from ear to ear. His goal had given Arsenal the lead, but he knew the game was far from over. Chelsea was a strong team, and they would come out fighting in the second half.

As he joined his teammates on the sideline, Coach Smith gathered them around for a quick team talk. "Great first half, boys. We're playing well, but don't get complacent. Chelsea's going to come out strong, and we need to be ready. Keep pressing, keep moving the ball quickly, and stay tight in defense. We've got this."

Francesco nodded along with the rest of the team. The hard work wasn't over yet, but they were in the lead—and that was exactly where they wanted to be.

Coach Smith, pacing the sidelines with a thoughtful expression, motioned for Francesco to stay back for a moment while the rest of the team gathered around. His sharp eyes focused on the young winger, as if calculating something. Finally, with a decisive nod, he spoke.

"Francesco, I want you to switch positions for the second half," Coach Smith said, his voice steady but firm. "You're going to play as the central striker."

Francesco blinked, caught off guard. He had spent most of the season honing his skills as a winger, but the prospect of playing as a striker thrilled him. It was a chance to be more involved in finishing plays, to be right in the thick of the action.

"You've been causing problems for their defense all game," Coach continued, his voice full of confidence. "They're struggling to keep up with your pace and movement, and I think we can exploit that through the middle. Will, you'll drop into the left wing and help stretch their defense. Let's keep them guessing."

Francesco nodded, excitement surging through him. This was a new challenge, and he was ready for it.

"Got it, Coach," Francesco replied, his eyes gleaming with determination.

Coach Smith then turned to address the entire team, his voice loud enough for everyone to hear. "Listen up, boys! Francesco's moving up front as our striker, and Will's shifting out wide. The rest of you, keep doing what we've worked on. Press high, control the tempo, and make sure to stay sharp on the wings. Chelsea's going to come at us hard in the second half, but if we stick to the plan, we'll come out on top."

The boys nodded in agreement, their faces a mix of exhaustion and determination. Coach Smith motioned toward the sideline where one of the assistant coaches stood ready with bottles of water.

"Take a break," Coach said, signaling the assistant to bring the water over. "You've earned it. Rest for the next fifteen minutes, hydrate, and catch your breath. The second half will be tough, but we've got them on the ropes. Let's keep pushing."

As the coaching staff handed out bottles of water, the boys sank down onto the grass, grateful for the moment of rest. Francesco wiped the sweat from his brow and gratefully took a long sip from his bottle, the cool water refreshing him as it went down.

Danny, sitting beside him, grinned as he leaned back on his elbows. "Striker, huh? Guess you're the man to lead us to glory now."

Francesco laughed, shaking his head. "We're all in this together. I just want to get another goal to give us some breathing room."

"Well, if you keep playing like you did in the first half, I've got no doubt you'll find the back of the net again," Danny replied, giving Francesco an encouraging nudge.

The team shared a few lighthearted jokes, trying to stay relaxed despite the tension that still lingered. From the stands, the sound of parents and fans chatting quietly filled the air, the calm before the storm of the second half. Francesco glanced over and saw his parents, his mother giving him an enthusiastic wave. He waved back with a smile, his heart swelling with gratitude. Their unwavering support meant the world to him.

Coach Smith, standing at the edge of the group, watched his team closely as they rested. His arms were crossed over his chest, but there was a small smile on his lips—a rare sight. Despite the tough first half, they had executed their game plan well, and he was proud of how far the boys had come.

As the minutes ticked by, Coach Smith clapped his hands together to grab their attention. "Alright, boys, the break's nearly over. Use these last few minutes to stretch and stay loose. We've got another forty minutes to go, and I want every one of you giving it everything you've got."

Francesco stood up, rolling his shoulders and stretching his legs. He could feel the energy returning to his body, the adrenaline still coursing through him. The prospect of playing as a striker in the second half filled him with excitement. He imagined the chances he would get, the runs he could make, and the opportunities to put more pressure on Chelsea's defense.

He noticed Will stretching nearby, and walked over to him. "You good with the switch?" Francesco asked.

Will, always easygoing, gave a thumbs-up. "No problem. Just make sure you put away the chances. I'll be whipping in crosses from the left for you."

"Deal," Francesco said, grinning.

The team gathered once again as the final few minutes of their break slipped away. Coach Smith ran through a few more tactical points, reminding them to stay compact in defense and to use their wingers to stretch the Chelsea backline. The boys nodded, their focus returning as they mentally prepared for the second half.

As the assistant coaches collected the empty water bottles and cleared the sideline, Coach Smith clapped his hands one last time. "Alright, let's get back out there. We're in the lead, but Chelsea's not going to roll over. Stay focused, stay sharp, and let's finish this game strong."

The boys jogged back onto the pitch, their muscles loose but their minds sharp. Francesco could feel the tension in the air as they took their positions for the second half. The crowd was quiet, anticipation hanging over the pitch like a thick cloud.

Francesco took his place at the center of the front line, standing next to Chelsea's center-back. The defender was taller and looked strong, but Francesco wasn't intimidated. He knew his speed and agility would be his greatest weapons in this new role.

The referee blew the whistle, signaling the start of the second half. Chelsea kicked off, immediately pushing forward with renewed energy. It was clear they were determined to equalize, and Francesco's team had to be prepared for the onslaught.

But Francesco was ready. His heart pounded in his chest as he locked eyes with Danny across the field. They shared a knowing look, silently agreeing that the second half was theirs to take.

________________________________________________

Name : Francesco Lee

Age : 5 (2003)

Birthplace : London, England

Football Club : Arsenal U9 Team

Championship History : None