In the following days, Ma’el’s physical fatigue gradually diminished, and he slowly increased the intensity of his power training.
The Skill Level progress was about to reach Level 3, and he couldn’t wait.
The sooner he builds his strength, the sooner he can start training in speed and coordination to strengthen his weaknesses.
He anticipates having more ans to deal with opponents and looks forward to becoming that truly versatile self in the future.
On August 21, two days before the third round of the Championship, an away ga against Middlesbrough.
At noon, in the gym.
Ma’el lay on the ground, his body slightly trembling, which developed into muscle twitches, his entire body numb, and finally, he slowly lost all sensation.
He knew this was the feeling of breaking through to Level 3 in power!
[Skills: Strong Level 3]
[Skill Level progress: (1/2000)]
[Utility: After reducing your body fat rate, you start to focus on improving your absolute physical strength. You gradually gain a strong physique, beco robust and powerful, and your ability to resist improves greatly!]
This was a completely new feeling, not only an enhancent of his body but also a ntal uplift!
A powerful and intense feeling of strength surged into his mind, giving him confidence and relaxation beyond his past.
"Hoo....."
Ma’el exhaled a breath of turbid air, as if expelling all the hard work of this period, leaving only the present joy and comfort.
This was a ntal enjoynt, with dopamine and endorphins secreting wildly, making him feel like having a cerebral climax.
He couldn’t stay idle, got up and went to the sandbag, releasing a few heavy punches that made the sandbag emit ’bang bang’ sounds, and then used his shoulder to hit the rebounding sandbag back and forth.
A bit like a lunatic..... but understandable.
Back ho, he wanted to use his current high spirits to rare encourage Gilbert seriously, only to find that Gilbert’s complexion was not looking good.
"I thought I had a chance to start this week."
Gilbert seed to have just learned about this week’s roster arrangent, looking dejected: "But unexpectedly, I’m still a substitute."
Ma’el was about to comfort him when Gilbert waved him off.
His expression beca uglier, his gaze unfocused: "What shocks more is that you didn’t secure your starting position after the last ga and instead beca a substitute."
Ma’el felt a pang of intense doubt.
Maybe because of the power breakthrough, he didn’t feel down, but an indescribable sense of strangeness erged in his heart.
"Buzz, buzz, buzz....." The phone vibrated with an incoming call for Ma’el.
He picked it up, seeing it was Jorson, answered sowhat blankly, hoping the person on the other end would talk about this matter.
"Ma’el, I’m not sure if you’ve seen the newly released match roster."
Jorson’s voice was filled with noticeable apology from the start, speaking intermittently, with frequent sighs: "Sorry, this may disappoint you, but I want to say it’s definitely not your fault.
"It’s the conflicts between the managent and coaching staff that led to this situation, making you feel all over the place."
"It’s okay."
Ma’el hesitated a bit but decided to ask directly: "Can you specifically tell what happened?"
The voice on the other end fell into silence, then after a mont, started speaking again: "You might have noticed that recently, during training, we incorporated the 4-4-2 formation practice, which is Mr. Garrispeed preparing for his takeover.
"Kevin putting you in the starting lineup at the last match and relegating Gilbert to the bench while giving him a chance was also at Mr. Garrispeed’s request.
"The condition was that he must act as an interdiary between Kevin and the board to facilitate the board paying the severance to dismiss Kevin quickly.
"But nearly two weeks have passed, and Kevin hasn’t received any news from the board, making him anxious."
Hearing this, Ma’el had a faint guess about the situation.
Gilbert, who was next to him, angrily threw down his drink, eyes ablaze.
The voice on the other side continued with anger, "This bastard expresses his urgency by wavering between using you two, to pressure the board and Garrispeed!
"This coward, why can’t he fight for what he wants himself! If he truly values dignity, why not resign voluntarily?
"Everyone can see now that making use of you and Gilbert, whether for the present or the latter half of the season, is extrely beneficial for the team!"
Jorson finally cald down and expressed apologies on behalf of the club before hanging up.
"What do we do now?" Gilbert asked, his face even darker.
"Pray Kevin gets the sack soon."
Ma’el looked at him and added at last: "And hope he still retains so professional ethics, granting us substitutes so playing ti tomorrow if possible."
......
The next afternoon, at Middlesbrough’s ho, Riverside Stadium.
"Oh...Wo...Oh.....!!"
Over thirty thousand ho fans in red jerseys were in full force, their cheers endless, exerting constant pressure on the visiting team.
On the sidelines, Ma’el sat in the substitute seat, wearing a substitute vest, with Gilbert beside him, both sitting on the bench idly.
He could feel the tension within the entire team, like a string pulled taut, ready to snap at any mont.
Their absence from the field made everyone fully realize that the conflict was far from resolved, and the semblance of revival was rely an illusion; soone had to leave!
Negativity once again appeared in everyone.
Sheffield United players played ugly soccer, continuously suppressed by Middlesbrough, the situation was precarious.
Ma’el hoped for a chance to play, hoping all the way until halfti and then the seventieth minute of the second half..... then he ceased to hope anymore.
"Bang!"
In the eighty-seventh minute of the match, with middling shooting footwork throughout the day, Middlesbrough finally scored by heading in a set piece, breaking through Sheffield United’s goal.
"Yeah...!!" The ho fans cheered excitedly, and the player who scored the killer goal beat his chest madly, ran to the edge of the field to celebrate wildly, and instantly, the entire field was filled with jubilation.
Only Sheffield United’s players had dull eyes, as if they had lost their senses.
"Beep! Beep! Beep——!"
Soon, the match ended, with Sheffield United losing the third round of the new season, zero to one.
They all walked towards the locker room in a trance, once again falling into silence, everything from the previous match appearing as a fleeting brilliant mont before death.
On the way back, Ma’el noticed soone whispering into Kevin’s ear and then leading him off in another direction to sowhere else.
He didn’t mind, thinking it was just a post-match interview.
Until soon after returning to the locker room, Mr. Garrispeed, wearing a black suit and a brand-new red tie, spiritedly walked in.
"Kids."
He squeezed out a smile from his fatigue, the sa as usual, but this ti with relief: "Kevin is out! I will be your new successor."
All the players suddenly looked up, and the locker room fell instantly silent.
"Oh.....!" After a mont of reaction, they erupted in a burst of intense cheers, as if scoring a goal on the field.
Many had been waiting for this day for a long ti!
Ma’el joyfully turned his head to look at Gilbert, joining the atmosphere, and they high-fived to celebrate.
"Other changes, we’ll talk about it slowly when we get back."
Garrispeed tapped the table, signaling for everyone to be quiet and pay attention, "In the next ho ga, we will return to Bramall Lane Stadium.
"By then, everything that was taken from you, I will give back to you! Let’s strive together and use a victory to inaugurate my coaching career with a good start!"
"Good.....!" Cheers erupted in the locker room once more, with many even standing up, punching the air fiercely.
In this regard, Garrispeed had already completely outdone Kevin, even though he was just a young coach who just started his career.
"He definitely ans us!"
Gilbert, sitting next to Ma’el, leaned over excitedly and shouted: "I an, he’ll give your starting position back, and give a chance to play!"
"Definitely."
Looking at this promising young coach in front of him, Ma’el suddenly felt a little anticipation; maybe this season, they could achieve sothing together.
"How are you going to celebrate?" Gilbert joked with a smile.
"Let think."
Ma’el pondered for a mont, rembering the next ho ga where he might also make his debut at Bramall Lane Stadium, "Then...smash Bramall Lane with a heavy strike!"
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