Quarterfinals

Jerry released a sigh as he sat at his designated space in the locker room. Around him, his teammates were already dressed in their football kits, chatting in small groups about everything from the upcoming match to jokes only they seemed to find funny. The match against Jermaine Walter Academy was set to begin in less than twenty minutes, and the atmosphere in the locker room buzzed with a mix of anticipation and nervous energy.

Jerry glanced around, his fingers fiddling absentmindedly with the laces on his cleats. He wasn't particularly nervous—he'd played plenty of matches before—but there was a certain weight that came with this game. His eyes fell to the captain's armband resting in his lap, its vibrant colors almost mocking him. Letting out another sigh, he picked it up and fixed it on his right upper arm.

He didn't particularly enjoy being captain. It felt more like a chore than an honor. But whether he liked it or not, it was his role, and he had responsibilities to uphold. He straightened up, adjusted the armband, and raised his voice.

"Alright, everyone, gather round!"

The chatter instantly died down as the boys turned to look at him. Slowly, they shuffled closer, forming a rough circle around their captain.

"Now, we're going up against Jermaine Walter Academy. They're a decent side, but it doesn't matter. Do you know why?" Jerry asked, his tone steady but firm.

"Because we're the best!" the team shouted in unison.

Jerry flinched at the overly enthusiastic reply, as did several others. "Okay, let's never do that again," he muttered, earning a wave of nods and chuckles from the group.

"Listen," he continued, his voice more serious now, "it's going to be a tough game against a tough team. But like I've said before, I don't think there's anything I can say to motivate you that you don't already know. We all understand what's at stake, and that's why we need to fight. If you're not willing to fight for your dream, no pep talk from me is going to change that."

The boys nodded, their expressions shifting from casual to focused. Before Jerry could say more, Victor, their coach, walked in.

"Alright, boys!" Victor called out, clapping his hands together. "It's time for us to pick up where we left off yesterday."

A collective groan rose from the players.

"No way!"

"We spent, like, five hours revising tactics yesterday!"

Victor smirked. "We didn't spend five hours; we spent two. And most of you were asleep half the time anyway," he said, earning a few sheepish grins. "Now, listen up. I've already covered the bulk of it, so this will be quick. Defensive and midfield players, you're free to relax. It's just the front three I need to talk to."

Jerry let out a soft sigh of relief. He wasn't exactly eager for another tactical session, even if it was brief.

Victor pointed at Daniel, a tall, blonde boy who looked far too mature to be only fifteen. "Alright, Daniel, you're playing as the striker today. I don't need you dropping deep or trying to link up play like those fancy modern forwards you see on TV. Your job is simple: stay in good positions and finish chances. You're a big lad, so it should come naturally."

Daniel nodded, his imposing six-foot-two frame making him look like he belonged in a professional league rather than a youth match.

"Zach," Victor continued, turning to the shorter winger, "I need you making runs. The wingback behind you is an excellent passer, so I want you constantly sprinting down the wings. I don't care if your runs are ignored half the time—just keep making them. It'll pay off."

Finally, Victor's gaze landed on Jerry. "And you, Jerry. I need you to put on your dribbling boots. You're already great at holding the ball under pressure, but today I want you to take it a step further. Be direct. Attack their fullback relentlessly. I want him to dread every time you get the ball."

"No problem, gaffer," Jerry replied with a confident nod.

Victor raised his hands in mock surrender. "And that's it. See? That wasn't so bad, was it?"

"Bugger off!" the boys chorused, laughter filling the room.

Victor chuckled and stepped out, leaving the players to prepare themselves. Coaching wasn't just physically exhausting—it was mentally draining too. Watching clips, analyzing opponents, crafting tactics, and then simplifying everything for the team took its toll.

"It really is stressful being a coach," Victor muttered to himself, leaning against the doorframe. He wasn't going far; the match was about to begin, and he still had to lead the team out onto the pitch.

And the two teams are walking out onto the pitch now. It's Jermaine Walter Academy versus Jeremiah Hayes Football Institution—a match between two evenly matched teams with similar styles of play. It'll be interesting to see how both managers adapt.

We can see Jeremiah Hayes Football Institution has made some changes from their last outing—a 2-1 win against James Charles Academy. Notably, Jordan Phillips has been replaced by Daniel Durant, a natural striker. This hints at a possible 4-3-3 formation.

On the other hand, Ethan Maxwell has been swapped for Jeremy Carlson, a center-back, suggesting they might actually be setting up with three at the back. A 3-4-3, perhaps.

That sounds more likely. Jermaine Walter Academy, meanwhile, has also made some adjustments. Darren Brook returns to the starting eleven after missing their 4-0 win last time. And James Warren, who scored a hat-trick in that match, has earned himself a starting spot as well.

Interestingly, Jermaine Walter Academy's back four consists entirely of natural center-backs. It'll be fascinating to see how that works out.

Here are the confirmed lineups:

Team Jermaine Walter Academy

Formation 4-4-2

Goalkeeper Manuel Jason

Left Back: Dax Walker

Left Center Back: Tolu Isaiah

Right Center Back: Allison Samuel

Right Back: Geovani Van Bruge

Left Midfielder: David Adam

Central Midfielder: Oliver Forster

Central Midfielder: Charles Forster

Right Midfielder: James Bennet

Striker: Larry Hurchester

Striker: Steven Smith

Team Jeremiah Hayes Football Institution

Formation 3-4-3

Goalkeeper: Archie Stoke

Right Center Back: Nathaniel Drake

Central Center Back: Jeremy Carlson

Left Center Back: Moses Ford

Right Wing Back: Lewis Carver

Central Midfielder: Oliver Trent

Central Midfielder: Jamie Halliday

Left Wing Back: Miles Heath

Right Attacking Midfielder: Zachary Cole

Left Attacking Midfielder: Jeremiah Hayes Jr.

Striker: Daniel Durant

In the VIP section, Jeremiah Hayes Sr. entered and took his seat. Almost immediately, he was greeted by James, who, to Jeremiah's annoyance, had decided to sit beside him again.

"You're here," James said with a faint smirk.

"Mm," Jeremiah replied, his gaze already fixed on the pitch.

"Are you going to leave after your son's match again, or will you stick around this time?" James asked, his tone almost challenging.

Jeremiah sighed inwardly. What was INEOS thinking when they put him in charge?

"I was planning to leave, but you know what? I'll stay for the first half of the next match. Who knows? If I like what I see, I might stay for the whole thing," Jeremiah said with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

James snorted. "Sure. Just keep an eye on the two attacking midfielders in your academy. They're both being played out of position, so I'm curious to see how they handle it."

Jeremiah's smile widened. "Only one of them is out of position. The other is versatile enough to play across the forward line."

"Are you talking about your son?"

"Of course," Jeremiah replied proudly. "I was a pretty decent left winger back in the day. He should be too."

A/N:

Confession time: I am an avid Manchester United fan and as you can imagine, I've been through some shit quite recently. Four losses on the bounce, three games in a row without scoring... I'm already depressed. The fact that we have Liverpool and Arsenal next doesn't make it any better.

So please, cheer a lad up by voting and commenting on his book. It might not seem much to you but it does a long way in stabilizing my mental health.

Yours truly, the sad United fan, Heavenmonarch