A Draw

[Drop some powers, leave a comment or review if you want, and enjoy the chapter, trying to hit 400 power stones this week. Also come on people we need comments, I don't want people thinking this is botted.] 

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After scoring the goal, Lingard sprinted jubilantly toward the corner where the Brighton fans were gathered, sliding onto his knees to revel in the moment. The stands erupted with cheers, echoing the exhilaration of the players on the field.

"This young player on loan from Manchester United has just netted his first goal for Brighton!" the commentator exclaimed, his voice brimming with excitement. "In the first half of the season, he was loaned to Birmingham, where he scored four goals in his debut—a remarkable performance!"

"It seems that even after switching teams, he's quickly settled in and maintained his impressive form," another commentator added.

Brighton's players surged toward Lingard, joining in the celebration, their joy palpable as they embraced their teammate. The fans, previously bracing for a grueling battle at Leicester City's home ground, were euphoric. They never expected their team to strike first so early in the match, just five minutes in.

As Lingard celebrated, the mood shifted on the Leicester side. Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, visibly frustrated by the casual manner in which the goal had been conceded, retrieved the ball from the net and hurled it forward. "What are you doing?!" he shouted, his frustration boiling over. "The game has started!"

Known for his resilience, Schmeichel rarely blamed teammates after a goal, but this time, his irritation was evident. Right-back De Wright, who had failed to mark Lingard effectively, quickly owned up to his mistake. "That's on me. I didn't keep a close enough eye on him."

Seeing his teammate take responsibility, Schmeichel eased up. Captain Morgan clapped his hands, rallying the players. "Mistakes happen, but thinking they don't matter is what we need to avoid! This is our home ground—let's not give our fans a reason to feel down. Cheer up!"

After conceding, the Leicester players shook off their momentary stupor. With renewed determination, they quickly seized control of the game's tempo after the restart. Meanwhile, Brighton, having taken the lead, reverted to a solid defensive formation, relinquishing possession and allowing Leicester to circulate the ball at the back without much resistance.

Brighton's tactical approach was no surprise to Leicester's players or coaching staff. Since February, every visiting team at the King Power Stadium had opted for a defensive strategy, and Leicester had become accustomed to seeking opportunities within the opponent's ranks.

As Leicester City pushed forward into Brighton's half, they encountered fierce resistance. Among Brighton's defenders, Lingard, donning the No. 35 shirt, was particularly tenacious. Positioned as a left midfielder, he matched up against Mahrez, Leicester's dazzling right winger.

Leicester's dominance in the league had prompted opposing teams to focus their defenses on their key players, particularly Mahrez, whose skillful footwork made him a target. Tasked with marking him, Lingard shadowed Mahrez closely, intent on denying him the space to dribble forward.

Lingard's tireless work ethic and tactical discipline defined his playing style. Despite his slender frame, he was fast and agile, often seen sprinting back to assist in defense. His relentless pursuit of Mahrez proved effective; the talented winger found it challenging to break past him. Whenever Mahrez attempted to advance, Lingard would quickly close the gap, forcing him to pass the ball back to the midfield.

Yet, after successfully disrupting Mahrez's play, Lingard became overzealous. When Mahrez passed the ball back to Tristan, Lingard charged forward, intent on intercepting the ball. As he bore down on Tristan, a surge of determination coursed through him. He thought to himself, This is my chance!

As Lingard lunged to steal the ball, Tristan deftly nudged it forward with his right foot, sidestepping the challenge and advancing with the ball.

Lingard, caught off guard by Tristan's swift movement, watched in surprise as the young midfielder slipped past him. Reacting quickly, he pivoted and began his pursuit. However, as Tristan moved forward with the ball, he suddenly felt a sharp tug on the back of his jersey.

With a gasp, he fell to the ground. Beep! The referee's whistle pierced the air, signaling a tactical foul. Lingard's first foul had earned him a mere verbal warning, as the referee recognized the intent behind the play.

"Hey, buddy, are you okay?" Lingard asked, extending a hand to help Tristan up.

Tristan, still recovering from the sudden fall, accepted Lingard's hand and rose to his feet. "I'm fine. At least you didn't tackle me from behind."

Lingard blinked, surprised by Tristan's calm demeanor. He had expected the younger player to retaliate with some cheeky banter, but instead, he found a composed and confident presence standing before him. It was no wonder that Tristan had quickly become a core midfielder for Leicester City, leading the team toward promotion while making an impact in his debut season.

Lingard felt a flicker of frustration at his own struggles to secure a spot in Manchester United's first team. Yet, as quickly as the feeling arose, he brushed it aside. I'm a player recognized by Sir Alex Ferguson, he reminded himself. I won't give up easily! Besides, he had already scored a goal—Tristan had yet to find the net or assist anyone.

As the match wore on, Leicester City faced unexpectedly resilient resistance from Brighton. By the 30th minute, the score remained 1-0 in favor of the visitors. Brighton's players executed their coach's tactical plan with precision, constructing an impenetrable wall of defense in their own half. Despite Leicester's efforts to penetrate the defense through short passes and clever movement, they found themselves struggling to create real scoring opportunities.

Alongside Lingard's tenacity, Brighton's defense featured standout performances from Dunk, a towering central defender, and Ulloa, the Argentine striker. Dunk's crucial header had paved the way for Brighton's opening goal, showcasing his ability to capitalize on set pieces and clear threats effectively.

Ulloa, while yet to score, was instrumental in holding the ball up in the attacking third, using his physicality to challenge Leicester's defenders. As he battled with captain Morgan, the strength of Ulloa's presence caught everyone's attention.

From the sidelines, Pearson, Leicester's manager, exchanged glances with his assistant coach, Steve Walsh. "The Argentine you recommended is impressive," Pearson remarked, acknowledging Ulloa's contributions.

As early as the winter transfer window, Ulloa had caught the attention of Leicester City's scouting department. Although the forward line appeared robust with six players, in reality, only three of them were viable options.

In addition to Nugent and Vardy, New Zealand striker Chris Wood had shown promise, performing admirably in limited appearances this season. However, veterans Kevin Phillips and Gary Taylor-Fletcher were nearing the end of their careers, with Phillips at 40 and Taylor-Fletcher at 33. It was likely they would be let go once the team secured promotion.

Tom Hope, a young striker promoted from the youth team, lacked the strength and experience to make a significant impact, primarily playing in the youth league. As such, Leicester City aimed to reinforce their forward line during the winter window.

Brighton's top scorer, Ulloa, was a key target, but Leicester's attempts to negotiate were swiftly rebuffed. Brighton, eyeing promotion themselves, was unwilling to part with their star player to a rival.

With the emergence of Tristan, Pearson decided to make a bold move, shifting Nugent from center forward to the left wing. This adjustment meant the plan to strengthen the forward line was temporarily shelved.

However, with the league proceeding smoothly and promotion all but secured, Pearson recognized the importance of early preparations for the summer transfer window. Waiting until the season's end would risk losing potential targets to competing clubs. The old adage rang true: the early bird catches the worm.

Typically, clubs didn't simply acquire players; they sent scouts to evaluate and compile lists of potential signings. Once suitable candidates were identified, negotiations regarding transfer fees and player contracts would commence. The timeline for transfers could vary dramatically—from a matter of days to several months, depending on the willingness of both parties to strike a deal.

Hearing Pearson's thoughts, assistant coach and chief scout Steve Walsh, sitting beside him, grinned. "You know, if we maintain the 4-2-3-1 formation after being promoted to the Premier League, we might not need to bolster the center position."

Pearson raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Why do you say that?"

"Vardy is in incredible form and has developed great chemistry with Tristan. There's no way he's going to be benched. Plus, Nugent can slide back to the center as a substitute. He hasn't quite adapted to playing as a left winger—his pace isn't there, and his crossing leaves something to be desired. In counterattacks, he's often unable to support the wing effectively."

Steve continued, "And then there's Kokanot. While he's great in possession, his tendency to hold onto the ball too long can hinder quick transitions."

Pearson listened attentively, nodding in agreement. He valued Walsh's insights; they shared a long history of successful scouting. Walsh had previously contributed to Chelsea's success, bringing in stars like Zola, Cech, Essien, and Drogba. After transitioning to Newcastle United, he met Pearson, and their camaraderie had only strengthened since their arrival at Leicester City.

"Let's find a left winger with speed, good crossing ability, and a strong defensive work ethic. This will help us maintain the tempo we want during transitions," Walsh proposed.

As if on cue, Pearson's gaze shifted to Lingard, who was tirelessly working to create opportunities on the field. "Steve, what do you think of Brighton's No. 35?"

Hearing Pearson's words, Walsh couldn't help but look at Lingard on the field. "This kid is pretty good. The potential of his batch of kids from the Carrington base is worthy of recognition."

"Yeah, it's a shame we didn't take that tall midfielder with us when we signed Danny and Matty from Manchester United," Pearson replied, his tone tinged with regret.

[My god was this part racist as fuck with the way the Chinese author was describing Pogba] 

The "midfielder" he mentioned is none other than Paul Pogba, who is currently making waves in Serie A with Juventus. In 2012, Pogba left Manchester United and transferred to Juventus on a free transfer.

Under the guidance of Pirlo and Marchisio, he quickly matured into the core of the Old Lady's midfield, winning the European Golden Boy Award in 2013. Now, Pogba is considered one of the top U21 players not just in Serie A, but globally.

Pearson couldn't help but wonder if Manchester United was regretting their decision to let him go. Nevertheless, he felt a pang of regret for not making a stronger effort to bring Pogba to Leicester City.

However, Walsh, standing beside him, quickly dispelled that regret. "You think too much. At that time, even if we had invited him, he wouldn't have looked down on us as a Championship team."

"That's true," Pearson admitted.

After a pause, Walsh continued, "Let's get back to the point. Given Manchester United's current situation, Lingard won't have many opportunities to play in the first team. But he seems to be a native of Manchester and might be hesitant to transfer away."

"If we can't sign him, we could consider a loan!" Pearson suggested.

Manchester United's youth training has been at the top level in England since the Class of 92. However, with a first team packed with stars and talents, these youth players often struggle to find playing time. Players who can't break into the first team typically seek loans or transfers to continue their development.

Pearson, having seen the success of players like Pogba and Leicester's own Drinkwater and Matty James, recognized the value of focusing on Manchester United as a source for talent. Who could blame Manchester United for preferring to buy established stars rather than giving opportunities to outstanding youth players?

"Aren't you familiar with Court? You can ask him if he's willing to loan Lingard to us for a year," Walsh suggested.

Mick Court is currently Manchester United's technical director. Walsh had previously worked with him when arranging the transfers of Drinkwater and Matty James, establishing a solid relationship between them.

"Sure, once the season wraps up, I'll give him a call," Walsh agreed.

Meanwhile, Tristan, oblivious to the plans being discussed off the pitch, was still hard at work on the field, organizing the team's offense and searching for gaps in Brighton's defensive system.

However, he soon realized that things were not that simple. Perhaps it was due to the season winding down and the main players reaching their limits; there simply wasn't much left in the tank.

Though Tristan had only started playing consistently after the winter transfer window, his physical condition remained solid, allowing him to keep running and supporting his teammates. But he was just one person.

Moreover, he lacked the kind of individual attacking prowess that could break through defenses single-handedly, like some of the game's greats. Without the ability to score from distance like Gerrard, Ballack, or Lampard, Tristan was currently more of a playmaker, focusing on creating opportunities rather than finishing chances himself, of course he can finish attacks, he just isn't that great at them yet.

While other teammates showed signs of fatigue and dwindling energy, Tristan's passes remained accurate, although his offensive presence felt somewhat subdued. As the first half wore on, the score of 0-1 held steady until the whistle blew for halftime.

During the break, Pearson noticed the players' exhaustion and quickly encouraged them to shake off the pressure. After some calming words from the head coach and a few relaxing stretches from the team masseur, the main players began to feel revitalized and were ready to step back onto the pitch.

At the start of the second half, Leicester City launched a series of aggressive attacks under Tristan's leadership. However, Brighton benefited from some good fortune, and with the goalkeeper's skillful saves, Leicester's efforts fell just short of finding the net.

In the 60th minute, with the score still unchanged, Leicester City made a strategic substitution. Vardy was replaced by New Zealand center forward Chris Wood, allowing Nugent to shift from the left wing to a central position, forming a dual striker partnership with Wood. Meanwhile, Tristan and Mahrez swapped positions, moving to opposite flanks to create opportunities for cross-passing into the box.

When their positional play failed to break through Brighton's defense, they decided to adopt a more direct approach—crossing from the wings into the penalty area. This tactical shift proved effective!

In the 77th minute, Leicester City equalized with a powerful header from Chris Wood, who had just entered the game. He scored thanks to a perfectly placed 45-degree arc pass from Tristan.

However, that would be the final goal of the match. Despite the equalizer, Brighton managed to hold on for a draw, securing a valuable point at King Power Stadium. In doing so, they halted Leicester City's impressive Championship winning streak, which was now set at 20 games—a record that had exceeded everyone's expectations.

After the game, as the Leicester City players made their way to the fans' stands to show their appreciation, the Foxes supporters greeted them with warm applause. Given the team's exhausting run of victories and the guarantee of promotion, a draw wasn't considered a setback. Fans recognized the remarkable achievements of the season and celebrated the players' hard work.

It's worth mentioning that after the post-match celebrations, Lingard spotted Tristan in the player tunnel, just as he was about to head back to the locker room.

"Hey man, can we trade jerseys?" Lingard asked, a hopeful grin on his face.

Tristan, slightly taken aback, nodded eagerly. "Of course!"

As he began to remove his jersey, Lingard added, "Your pull-up pass was incredible! I didn't even see it coming at the time."

Tristan chuckled, responding, "Thanks! But your goal was amazing, especially that knee slide celebration. That was awesome!"

Lingard laughed, and Tristan couldn't help but think to himself, He truly is the king of celebrations!

"Hey, congratulations on your promotion! I'll see you in the Premier League next season," Lingard said, giving Tristan a friendly pat on the shoulder.

"Yeah, see you in the Premier League!" Tristan replied, watching Lingard walk away.