Chapter 6: Southampton U-18

Sports injuries are one of the unavoidable risks that some athletes have to face.

Without proper medical treatment, injuries can be fatal or leave permanent disabilities that often break the careers of athletes in the world of professional sports.

For football players, injury is a frightening specter. The worst thing is that an injury can ruin a footballer's career and may force the person to retire early. Lucky if someone who has suffered a serious injury can return to the pitch. however, the injury will still have an impact on the footballer's gameplay in the future.

There are many examples of players whose careers have been ruined by injuries. There was no need for Kazuki to mention one by one to know how important it was to deal with the risk of injury.

As a striker, Kazuki would make physical contact with opposing defenders. In that physical contact, of course, there would be a moment where Kazuki would receive a sharp tackle from the opposing defender. Because of that, Kazuki felt that he had to do something to reduce the risk of his injury.

He asked GM for advice on this matter.

In the next [Dream Training] GM provided a solution regarding the injury problem.

"The most effective thing is of course continuously strengthening your body. Only with a strong body can you reduce injuries. On the other hand, you can also practice ways to reduce the risk of injury. should be done to reduce injury."

Many small movements can reduce injury. An example is a right way to fall. When a soccer player collides in the air or is hit by an opponent's tackle, his body will lose balance and fall, to reduce injury, the right way of falling will reduce the risk of injury. Another example is the movement of jumping and rolling. When a player receives a tackle from the front he can jump forward and roll over to avoid the tackle, this jumping technique is also growing so that it becomes a diving technique to deceive the referee. The last is to improve the player's foot skills, with good skills and techniques footballers can trick opponents into taking defensive actions in the wrong direction.

After receiving the suggestion from the GM, Kazuki immediately added a portion of the anti-injury training that he designed with the help of the AI ​​that had gathered data on injury prevention measures from all over the world.

However, Kazuki's leg injury had also healed after all it was only a minor injury. The next day in Kazuki returned to follow the daily training of Manchester United U-18. In the 60-minute team training game, Kazuki scored two goals which showed his condition had completely recovered. On the other hand, Perreira again failed to score in the mini-games.

At the end of the training, Ethan put his arm around Kazuki's shoulder and said, "You played well today. I'm sure in the next match you will start as the starting line-up replacing Perreira."

Kazuki replied to Ethan casually, "All decisions are in the hands of the coach, he may give Perreira another chance. However, as long as I get the chance I definitely won't let him down."

After almost two weeks of Kazuki having [Dream Training], he gained quite a bit of confidence. At the u-18 level, Kazuki felt his current abilities were quite good. Although Kazuki was weaker in technique and skill than Perreira, Kazuki's off-the-ball, First touch shoot, and ball receive was better than Perreira. In addition, Kazuki's teamwork with Bennet and Ethan made him more confident.

Immediately after that training match, Traves announced the big list of players he would bring for the away game against Southampton U-18s. He began to announce one by one the players he would bring to Southampton. After that, Traves read out the starting line-up taken from the big list of players.

There is no change from the previous starting line-up except for the striker position. This time it was Kazuki who started over while Perreira was put on the bench.

Perreira of course made a dissatisfied face with the announcement, but he did not dare challenge coach Traves Lennon's decision. He could only blame himself for failing to score in the training match earlier.

The next day more than 20 people including Players, coaches, team doctors from the Manchester United Under-18 youth team went to Southampton.

Apart from Manchester United, Southampton Academy is also well known in England. Especially with Southampton Academy alumni who are now Gareth Neill's big stars. On the Table, Southampton U-18s are in 7th position, only 9 points away from Manchester United, which occupies 3rd position.

The moment Kazuki stepped foot on the staplewood campus where the match was taking place. He was surprised to find a group of Southampton fans watching the game from the sidelines. For a junior match like this, the attendance rate is always low. However, seeing Southampton supporters singing the anthem with enthusiasm inevitably made Kazuki jealous of the Southampton U-18 team.

From the start of the game, every time a Manchester United player got the ball, the Southampton fans in the stands immediately booed. As long as a mistake was made they would laugh at it loudly. If any player whose shot deviates from the goal they will applaud and jeer at that player.

One person who has been most affected by the Southampton fans is Manchester United winger Teddy Marcello. Unlike Ethan, who is good at shooting, Teddy has a weakness in this aspect. While Bennet can help attack on Teddy's side, Bennet's main task is always in the middle of setting the rhythm of Manchester United U-18 attacks.

Kazuki was also affected but he had been training in [Dream Training] regarding the away match effect. He arranged for 80,000 people in a huge stadium to jeer at him every time he got the ball. Of course, the training was carried out with the advice of the GM. As a result, Kazuki's mental development also improved.

Even so with Kazuki's comrades including Bennet being affected, it was difficult for Kazuki alone to score a goal. He needs the cooperation of his friends to create opportunities.

The mental condition of young Manchester United U-18 players who were less stable was used by Southampton U-18 well, they scored 2 goals in the first half.

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During the break, Traves immediately gave a lecture to the young player. He said that a player who cannot withstand the pressure of an away game will not be a great player. His words were mainly aimed at Bennet and Ethan who were the star players in the Manchester United Under-18 squad. On the other hand, he also replaced Teddy with a winger from South Africa, Ezeqhiel Nduasell.

The second half then begins. This time, Ethan and Bennett, who had adjusted themselves, coupled with Ezeqhiel, who was not affected by the Southampton fans, immediately made the Red Devils team-up.

In the 49th minute, Ezeqhiel received a beautiful pass from Bennet. He fired a hard shot, but unfortunately, the shot was saved by the Southampton goalkeeper. Ethan got the rebound ball, he then tricked the goalkeeper with a fake shot and passed it to Kazuki. Kazuki immediately ran towards the ball and then kicked it hard so that the ball shook the Southampton U-18 net.

After conceding one goal, Southampton immediately carried out bus parking tactics, they defended like turtle shells. This makes it difficult for Manchester United to break into Southampton's goalpost. Kazuki also for the first time felt the sensation of fighting alone in the opponent's penalty box. Even though he had practiced many times in [Dream Training], the sensation he felt was completely different.

The two Southampton center-backs flanked Kazuki so Kazuki didn't have much room to adjust his position and shoot.

Of course, Kazuki's training in [Dream Training] wasn't in vain. In the 70th minute, receiving a cross from Bennet. But the Southampton center-back held his body so that Kazuki couldn't turn his body to face the goalpost.

If he can't face the goalpost then so be it. Kazuki didn't need to face the goalpost to score a goal. With an element of luck, Kazuki scored a beautiful overhead kick that finally leveled it at 2-2.

Kazuki was overjoyed by this goal. This goal is different from the previous one. This was a goal that Kazuki got as a pure striker role rather than a false nine. Kazuki's comrades also gathered and congratulated Kazuki's beautiful goal.

"What a cool goal, you have to teach me mate," said Ethan while ruffling Kazuki's hair.

"Don't get too excited, our scores are still even," said Bennett, reminding the two of them.

Of course, Manchester United U-18s did not want to go home with 1 point. Only three points satisfied them.

The match continued, this time Southampton took the initiative to attack. But Manchester United played better in this second half than the first. They managed to keep the red devil's goal from conceding for the third time.

Finally, in the 84th minute, Kazuki, Bennet, and Ethan made a triangular pass to dismantle Southampton's defense. Kazuki ended the partnership with a beautiful goal that the Southampton U-18 goalkeeper was unable to keep out.

This was Kazuki's first hat trick in his junior career at Manchester United. Of course, he was very happy. He specifically requested the ball played in this match for collection, unfortunately, the request was refused.

On the other hand, the assistant coach whispered to Traves, "Coach are we going to recommend Kazuki to the U-23s? His performances continue to improve."

Kazuki is one of the oldest at Manchester United Under-18s, Ethan and Bennet are just 16 and 17 years old. There is no need to rush up to the U-23 but Kazuki is different, he is already 18 years old if he fails to enter the U-23 then his contract with Manchester United Academy will expire.

"It's only been two games, if the third and fourth matches he can do well, then it's not too late to recommend him to the Under-23s," Traves replied.

Southampton Under-18s coach Carl Martin shook his head in disappointment and shook hands with Traves saying, "Manchester United has always been full of talent. I envy you so much that you can coach kids like that every day."

Traves replied casually, "Southampton is full of talent too. You have a great goalkeeper."

After shaking hands Traves prepared to return to training camp. Meanwhile, Carl Martin whispered to his Assistant.

"Tell John to keep an eye on that young Japanese player."

His assistant asked Carl, "Is he worthy?"

"For a small club like ours, he deserves it. With a little training, I'm sure he will be a valuable asset."

Carl Martin is not only the U-18 coach, he also has an influence on the Southampton U-23 team and the Southampton first team.. Kazuki didn't realize that he was getting noticed by some small clubs.

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