Chasing Glory

[Ignore last chapter that's like 200 chapters from now, I was working on it, was half way done, and I posted it by accident and forget about it lmao. Anyway drop some powers, come on people, tryna hit 400 this week.] 

.....

[Ding Dong!]

[Achievement "Double Double" achieved]

[Achievement rating: S]

[Achievement Reward: Three Free Attribute Points]

As he had anticipated, achieving a double-double in his first season unlocked yet another milestone achievement. With the three free attribute points he just earned, combined with the two points awarded for completing the [Champions League Player of the Month] achievement, Tristan now had a total of five free attribute points to allocate!

Not just one or two, but five!

Tristan felt as though he had struck gold overnight. Just as he pondered how to distribute these five points, Mahrez approached him, looking exhausted after a long day of training. He plopped down next to Tristan and asked, "What are you up to?"

Tristan shook the phone in his hand and replied casually, "Nothing much, just thinking about my parents. I want to give them a nice gift for their support." Although he had given his parents £50,000, it wasn't just a simple gift. Since getting this second chance, he had grown less concerned about money—while he still desired more, it was no longer his top priority.

"That's thoughtful of you! I've got a new house, so I'm considering asking my parents to move in with me," Mahrez shared.

In January, Mahrez, along with his brother, had made the journey from France to England. However, once the signing was complete, his brother returned to France, leaving him to settle in with just his girlfriend while the club arranged temporary accommodations for him.

With the team on the brink of promotion to the Premier League, the players had already received their promotion bonuses. Each coach and player was set to receive £100,000, and with Mahrez's earlier bonus of £50,000 for breaking the winning streak record, the first team's coaches and players had collectively earned £150,000 this season!

Moreover, the club staff would also benefit from a percentage of these bonuses. In total, the club had spent millions on these two bonuses alone.

However, considering the tens of millions generated from broadcasting fees, ticket sales, and commercial revenue post-promotion to the Premier League, this expenditure was undoubtedly worthwhile!

So with the extra cash in hand, he decided to rent a bigger house and invite his parents to move from France to live with him. As he listened to Mahrez talk about the challenges of living with his girlfriend, Tristan initially smiled. However, the more he listened, the more he sensed something was amiss.

What's going on? Is it just me or is this guy bragging about having a girlfriend?!

[For those who read the chinese novel, I'll be keeping the love interest the same, for the first time in my life reading a story where the mc isn't cheating on his girl and getting a harem somehow, the bar is so low lmao] 

Oblivious to Tristan's inner thoughts, Mahrez continued to speak with a smile. In his eyes, Tristan was the first true friend he had made in England, both on and off the pitch, so it was only natural to share his daily life with him.

At that moment, Mahrez seemed to recall something, raising his eyebrows as he asked, "By the way, how many rounds in advance do you think we can clinch the championship?"

Tristan was momentarily taken aback by the question. Their recent victory over Burnley not only secured Leicester City's promotion to the Premier League but also extended their winning streak to 19 games, putting them 17 points ahead of Burnley. With eight matches still left in the league, they could earn a maximum of 24 points. Burnley, currently at 79 points, could only reach a maximum of 103 points if they won all their remaining games.

Leicester City, on the other hand, stood at 96 points, with a significantly better goal difference. This meant that securing just seven more points would guarantee them the championship. Whether they won three matches or achieved two wins and a draw, Leicester City would be crowned champions of the 2013-14 season five rounds early!

"It's only a matter of time before we win the championship. You might want to focus on the upcoming FA Cup match against Hull City instead," Tristan suggested.

Mahrez nodded in agreement. "That's true. We've got such a substantial lead. But do you think the championship award ceremony will be held at our home stadium?"

"I'm not sure," Tristan admitted.

While Mahrez eagerly anticipated the first league championship of his career, Tristan was less concerned. After all in his first life Leicester City win the Championship as well. He just made it more glorious and easier for the team. Even if they fielded substitute lineups for the remaining games, failure was unlikely. Winning the championship was merely a formality.

Besides, it was just a Championship title. Before his death, Leicester City had won the championship without him. His presence merely made the journey to the title seem more glorious and effortless.

Tristan was more focused on the FA Cup journey. Winning the FA Cup would grant them a spot in the Europa League next year! The Europa League, organized by UEFA, was formerly known as the UEFA Cup and underwent a format change in the 2009/10 season, adopting its current name. It stood as the second-largest European competition after the Champions League. However, entering the Europa League was only slightly easier than qualifying for the Champions League.

In the Premier League, only the top teams ranked fifth and sixth, along with the champions of the FA Cup and League Cup, have the chance to qualify for the Europa League. As a Championship team, Leicester City can only secure a spot in the Europa League next season if they win the FA Cup. Currently, Leicester City has made it to the semi-finals and will face Hull City, a Premier League team. On the other side of the bracket, Arsenal is set to play against Wigan Athletic.

Given Wigan's weaker status, it was nearly certain that Arsenal would advance to the final. This meant that for Leicester City to participate in the Europa League next year, they would need to overcome Hull City and then face Arsenal, the reigning FA Cup champions, in the final. According to Tristan's memory, Arsenal was indeed the FA Cup champion this season. However, due to this butterfly effect, Hull City had to first contend with Leicester City before challenging Arsenal for the title.

Tristan was determined not to let history repeat itself. His goal was to perform exceptionally well in the upcoming semi-final, ensuring that Leicester City would be the only team advancing to the final. If they reached the FA Cup final, they would have a shot at becoming double champions! A double championship title would be fitting for this Leicester City team, which had been dominant in the English Championship.

To prepare for this, Tristan decided to allocate all five of his free attribute points to [Burst]. The stronger his burst, the greater his instantaneous acceleration would be. This would give him an edge, allowing him to be a step quicker than his opponents in critical moments. Many players may not have the fastest absolute speed, but strong explosive power can provide a significant advantage in short sprints.

It's not just about being fast; it's crucial to have excellent explosive power. Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, possesses incredible explosiveness, which forms the foundation of his dribbling skills. While he was indeed fast in his youth, it was his explosive power that set him apart. He could move quicker than defenders trying to pressure him or steal the ball, utilizing quick changes of direction and acceleration in short bursts, combined with rapid footwork and unpredictable rhythm to evade defenders.

As an attacking midfielder, Tristan recognized that he didn't need to sprint back and forth excessively or dribble through opponents just yet. Instead, when closely guarded, he needed to pass the ball quickly and use short sprints to break free from pressure and create space for effective passing. In such situations, explosive power becomes essential. This is why Tristan prioritized increasing his [Burst] attribute from the start.

With each point he added, he noticed significant improvements in his explosive power. Recently, during a game where he received the ball with his back to the goal, an opponent pressed him from behind just as he was about to make his move. After increasing his [Burst] attribute to seventy-nine, he found his speed and footwork frequency significantly improved when receiving and releasing the ball.

Having experienced these benefits firsthand, Tristan was eager to further enhance his explosive power. His current [Burst] attribute might suffice in the Championship, but the Premier League posed a different challenge. The rhythm and intensity were far greater than in the Championship, which often focused on physical confrontations. The midfield battles and the rapid transitions between offense and defense were particularly intense, and Premier League players were generally stronger and faster.

In many instances, when he tried to make a play with his back to the goalkeeper in midfield, opposing players would close in and disrupt him before he even had a chance to get the ball. Therefore, Tristan's plan was to increase his [Burst] attribute to 90. This would give him a significant advantage as he transitioned to the Premier League, despite not having the edge in physical confrontations. Only then would he consider investing his points into other attributes.

However, locking in promotion to the Premier League did not mean that the players at Leicester City could relax. After all, the league championship had yet to be won.

Moreover, they still have a chance to compete for the FA Cup!

After a well-deserved day off, Pearson called all the first-team players into the tactical room to emphasize that the season was far from over.

"Guys, we have to stay focused! We must ensure we win the league title!" he urged, his voice resonating with determination. "Besides, we have one game left in the FA Cup, and we can make history by reaching the final again! The title of double champion is within our grasp!"

For the first time, Pearson revealed his ambition to the players. After reaching the FA Cup semi-finals, they were only two games away from the championship. In other words, they had the potential to win both the Championship and the FA Cup this season, achieving the coveted "double crown."

This opportunity was precious—one that many head coaches and professional players only encounter a few times in their careers. Pearson knew that when opportunity knocks, one must seize it. Regardless of the outcome, they would have no regrets.

He warned the players sternly, "If anyone slacks off in the next game or training, I will send them to the youth team to reflect!" The players nodded in understanding, fully supportive of their coach's decision.

On April 5th, during the 40th round of the Championship League, Leicester City faced Sheffield Wednesday at home. Given their home advantage and the weaker opponent, Pearson decided on a comprehensive rotation, resting key players like Tristan, Mahrez, Vardy, and Drinkwater. The starting lineup was almost entirely new, save for goalkeeper Schmeichel.

It was a rare opportunity for the substitutes, and they took full advantage, playing with vigor. Leicester City defeated Sheffield Wednesday 2-0, achieving an impressive 20 consecutive wins in a single season of the Championship League! This feat surpassed Reading's previous record by ten wins, and the media remarked that such an astonishing record might be difficult to equal or surpass in the future.

Following the match, media outlets analyzed Leicester City's record, examining the team's tactics and key players to understand their exceptional performance. They highlighted the head coach's strategic changes and the individual brilliance of core players like Tristan, Mahrez, Vardy, Morgan, and Drinkwater. However, it was The Times that pinpointed the crux of their success:

"Tristan Hale," they stated. The young midfielder's emergence prompted Pearson to boldly switch from a 4-4-2 to a 4-2-3-1 formation, entrusting the organization of the offense to the eighteen-year-old. Tristan did not disappoint, leading Leicester City on a remarkable winning streak and securing a promotion spot ahead of schedule.

The Times noted, "This young 18-year-old future star possesses all the qualities for success. Perhaps the sky is his limit!" Other newspapers echoed this sentiment, praising Pearson's foresight and tactics while lauding Tristan's performance.

Despite the accolades, some media outlets took a more skeptical approach, suggesting that while Tristan excelled in the Championship, he would struggle to replicate that success in the Premier League. This contrarian perspective garnered some attention, revealing the fickleness of media coverage.

When a young star emerges, the media is quick to praise, showing little concern for the potential pitfalls of stardom. Their job hinges on garnering attention, wielding the power to uplift or undermine players at will.

Nevertheless, after this wave of praise, Tristan's fame skyrocketed throughout England. Fans who knew little about him began to understand why numerous Premier League clubs sought the 18-year-old midfielder during the winter transfer window. His social media following surged from 113,000 to 130,000 on platforms like Twitter and Instagram, prompting speculation about which Leicester City players would feature in the Championship's best team and who might contend for Player of the Season.

The Championship Young Player of the Season award was already a foregone conclusion, with all media agreeing it belonged to Tristan Hale. His performances, even with limited playing time, earned him respect and admiration. The media's enthusiasm for his good looks and elegant playing style led some to dub him "the new Beckham."

[The glaze is back for now, lol. As much it pains me I still keep some glaze, I wish the chinese mf mentioned better players lmao like bruh it's fucking Beckham, dude was never a top 15 player in the world.]

Despite the media frenzy, Tristan remained unfazed. He was all too aware of the media's nature. Instead of getting caught up in the hype, he focused on surpassing one million followers, knowing that hitting milestones could unlock new rewards within his personal system. The title of "New Beckham," while somewhat flattering, was merely another source of teasing from his teammates.

After the victory over Sheffield Wednesday, Leicester City moved closer to the Championship title. In the upcoming match, they welcomed Brighton, eager to defend their winning streak at King Power Stadium.

Among Brighton's lineup were familiar faces like future captain Dunk and striker Ulloa, who would join Leicester City next season. However, the player Tristan was most eager to see was wearing No. 35—Jesse Lingard.

Standing in the player tunnel, he spotted Lingard and couldn't help but smile. He never expected to encounter him again after facing off against Maguire.

As the match approached, Tristan wrestled with the urge to greet Lingard, knowing he needed to focus on the game ahead. With comprehensive rotation in the previous match, he and the main players were back on the field. Brighton, vying for promotion play-off points, set up defensively in a 4-5-1 formation.

As the referee's whistle blew, Leicester City struggled to find their rhythm early on. Brighton quickly mounted an attack, earning a corner kick in the fifth minute. With their tall players like Ulloa and Dunk posing a threat in the penalty area, Tristan returned to defend.

With a swift kick, the corner swung into the crowded box. Dunk leaped above Morgan and Moore, heading the ball toward the far post. In a moment of brilliance, a player clad in blue and white stripes positioned himself perfectly to meet the ball and send it into the net.

"The ball goes in!" the commentator exclaimed. "Brighton takes the lead at King Power Stadium! The goal was scored by No. 35, Jesse Lingard!"

Tristan felt a mix of emotions as he watched Lingard celebrate, unsure whether to laugh or cry. He knew they would bounce back easily.