Starlight FC VS Red Star FC (2)
Just as Kay was mulling over this, something happened on the field that snapped him back to the present.
Dragan, his star striker, had found a gap in Red Star's shaky defense. With a quick turn and a powerful shot, Dragan sent the ball soaring into the net.
The stadium erupted in cheers as the first goal of the match went to Starlight FC.
Kay's eyes widened in surprise, but then a satisfied grin spread across his face. That was faster than he had expected.
It was clear now that this match might not be as tough as he had initially thought.
If Red Star's defensive experiment was this fragile, Starlight was going to have an easy time breaking through.
On the other side of the field, the Red Star manager's expression changed in an instant.
His confident smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of shock and disbelief. The laugh that had been on his lips just moments ago was abruptly cut off as he watched Dragan celebrate with his teammates.
He hadn't expected his plan to fall apart so quickly, and the sudden shift in momentum left him scrambling to reassess the situation.
Kay couldn't help but feel a sense of triumph. He had suspected that Red Star's defensive switch was more of a joke than a solid plan, and now the first goal confirmed it.
As he watched his players high-five and pat Dragan on the back, Kay knew that they had the upper hand.
The Red Star manager's gamble had backfired, and Kay was determined to press the advantage.
He turned to his players, who were now jogging back to their positions with renewed energy and confidence.
"Keep it up!" Kay shouted. "They're already on the ropes. Let's go for more!"
The Red Star players, meanwhile, looked rattled. Their manager's plan had thrown them off their usual game, and now they were paying the price.
The early goal had shattered their composure, and Kay could see the uncertainty in their movements as they prepared to restart the match.
As the match continued, Kay's attention was drawn to Dragan, who was playing exceptionally well.
His movements were sharper, his decisions quicker, and his confidence on the ball was unmistakable.
Curious, Kay discreetly opened the system, eager to check Dragan's stats.
- - -
Player: Dragan
Pace: 45
Shooting: 55
Passing: 46
Dribbling: 48
Defending: 42
Physical: 53
- - -
As he scanned the numbers, he noticed that Dragan's attributes had improved significantly, confirming what Kay had already noticed on the pitch.
Meanwhile, the game continued with Red Star FC trying to hold their defensive line, but Starlight FC was relentless.
They pressed forward with wave after wave of attacks. The Red Star defense, already shaken by the early goal, struggled to cope with the pace and precision of Starlight's play.
By the time the referee blew the whistle for halftime, the scoreboard read 3-0 in favor of Starlight FC.
Dragan had added another goal to his tally, and Anouar had chipped in with one of his own.
The Starlight players jogged off the field with their heads held high, while the Red Star players trudged back to their locker room, their shoulders slumped.
Red Star's manager was fuming. His frustration was palpable as he stomped back to his team.
The plan that was supposed to catch Starlight off guard had failed spectacularly.
He had changed his style after losing badly in the last match, hoping a more defensive approach would turn the tide. But here he was, down with the same score just at halftime.
In the Starlight locker room, the mood was much different. The players were in high spirits, and Kay made sure to keep that positive energy going. He gathered them around, a proud smile on his face.
"Well done, everyone! You executed the plan perfectly. Dragan, Anouar, great goals. But it wasn't just about the goals. Everyone played their part. We've dominated the first half, and that's because we worked together as a team."
The players nodded, pleased with their performance but also focused on what was to come.
"But the job's not done yet," Kay continued, his tone shifting to one of focus.
"We've got a strong lead, but we can't get complacent. For the second half, I'm going to make a couple of changes. Jamie, you'll be coming in for Antony, and Connor, you'll replace Desmond. Both of you, I want you to bring fresh energy onto the field."
Jamie and Connor nodded, eager to contribute.
Kay then turned his attention back to the whole team.
"Listen up. I'm pretty sure Red Star's going to come out swinging in the second half. They have nothing to lose at this point, so expect them to attack hard. We're going to switch things up and focus on defense and counter-attacks. Stay compact, absorb the pressure, and when the opportunity arises, hit them on the break. We've trained for this, so stick to the plan, and we'll finish this match strong."
In the Red Star locker room, the atmosphere was tense, almost suffocating. The manager paced back and forth, his face red with anger.
The first half had been a disaster, and he was furious. As the players sat in silence, trying to catch their breath, the manager exploded.
"This is the worst performance I've ever seen!" he shouted, his voice echoing off the walls.
"You're the worst players I've ever seen! I gave you a solid plan, but you don't respect it! You don't listen! How can you expect to win if you won't follow instructions?"
His harsh words hung in the air like a heavy fog, pressing down on the already demoralized team.
Some of the players looked down at their feet, too ashamed to meet his gaze, while others exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of what to do.
But then, something unexpected happened. Red Star's captain, who had been sitting quietly at the front, suddenly stood up.
His face was a mix of anger and frustration, and his hands were clenched into fists.
"I can't take this anymore!" the captain shouted back, his voice cutting through the manager's voice.
"We're not the problem here; you are! You can't blame us for your failures. We've been following your orders, but your plan is what is broken. We're sick of being humiliated like this."
The room fell silent, the other players looked at their captain with a mix of surprise and admiration. No one had ever dared to speak to the manager like that before.
The captain didn't stop there. He pointed toward the door, where their previous manager was standing, watching the scene unfold with a look of shock on his face.
"In the second half, we're playing on our own terms," the captain declared, his voice steady and determined.
"We're going back to what we know works. We'll follow our old manager's lead, not yours. We're done listening to you."
The current manager was stunned. He had never imagined his players would turn against him like this.
His mind raced as he tried to process what was happening. The anger that had fueled his outburst began to fade, replaced by a cold, creeping fear.
If his players were rebelling against him, it meant only one thing: he had lost their trust, and without that, he was nothing.
This realization hit him like a punch to the gut. The thought that he might be a failure as a manager was now impossible to ignore.
As the players began to gather around their former manager, seeking his guidance for the second half, the current manager stood frozen, watching helplessly as his authority crumbled before his eyes.
The humiliation he had tried to inflict on his players had backfired, leaving him isolated and powerless.
See you in the next chapter...