Everyone in the under-19 youth team could tell that Ishmael had been in a bad mood recently.
It was not because of his relationship with his teammates, nor because of his form. On the contrary, his relationship with his teammates was the same as always, and he had scored quite a few goals recently, even getting a hat trick in his last match.
But his mood was still terrible, as if it were written all over his face. Everyone could see it clearly.
Ishmael, Messi, and Johnson were the attacking trident of New Manchester United's under-19 team. Recently, they had been joined by a Nigerian teenager named John Obi Mikel. For his age, his attacking ability was outstanding, and he showed no shyness after arriving. He even formed a good partnership with Michael Johnson. In addition, he possessed strong running ability and defensive awareness.
There was also Ribéry, who had come down from the first team. He trained with the youth team but played in reserve matches, occasionally appearing in youth team games as well. He could play anywhere across the front line and had excellent technique, although his physical strength was weaker. The club was currently focusing on developing him.
These five players were now regarded by supporters as New Manchester United's future attacking combination.
When Sulley Muntari and Essien first arrived at the club, Ishmael was surprised by the arrival of the two Ghanaians because both of them were excellent and talented, especially Essien. He was given an important role as soon as he joined the club, and now he had indeed established himself in the first team despite being only eighteen years old.
Then came De Rossi.
When this player, who used to be a forward, first arrived, Ishmael was not particularly impressed. His shooting was terrible, and he was very thin. Ishmael felt he was no match for him at all.
However, De Rossi switched to playing as a defensive midfielder or central midfielder and performed better and better. Now, at just seventeen, he already had a place in the first team.
Later came Kaká.
The Brazilian's technique was truly dazzling. He was incredibly fast, and his movements were quick and sharp.
Ishmael had always been very confident in his own technique. He felt that although he was not as good as Messi, he was at least not inferior to anyone else, not even Hleb or Juninho.
But this season, Kaká arrived, and Palacio came as well.
Their arrival shocked Ishmael. He had not known that there were people in this world with such excellent technique.
He had competed with them on the same pitch, whether on the training ground or in the indoor football hall, and he had been completely defeated.
Kaká left, but Palacio stayed.
However, it was said that the club had bought several more players from Brazil, including a prodigy striker whom Mr. Yu believed was no less talented than Kaká. His name seemed to be Alexandre Pato. The club was currently arranging for him to undergo surgery in Manchester. After the operation, he would stay at the club for a while before returning to Brazil.
The constant comings and goings of players made Ishmael feel afraid.
He felt a sense of crisis, as if he had already fallen behind the others. Even Curtis, whom he regarded as his biggest rival in life, had now established himself in the first team and was being hailed by the English media as a rising star.
But what about him?
He was still just a youth team player.
With that feeling in his heart, Ishmael trained harder than ever.
He was worried that if he did not work harder, he might never catch up with the others and would eventually be eliminated.
Losing to anyone else did not matter.
But he could not lose to that annoying guy Curtis!
...
Ethan had a habit.
After the team's training session ended, and after the staff had packed up and left work, he liked to come out and slowly stroll around the training ground.
In his previous life, he had practically been a dedicated homebody.
Now, after several years in this world, he had achieved many things. He owned a professional football club that belonged entirely to him.
He had a group of rising young stars with great futures, a girlfriend who was a famous Hollywood A-list actress known around the world, and a large circle of friends and colleagues.
He cherished everything he had.
He would walk around the training base, looking after every inch of it like a relaxed wealthy man tending to his own back garden. He felt that the training base and stadium were his back garden, the club was his home, and the players were his family and friends.
Mourinho believed that Ethan's attitude toward the players was too friendly, and that it could easily make the players feel special and become spoiled.
But Ethan did not think so.
He knew he was simply showing care.
If anyone felt special because of that, he would not hesitate to sell him.
This care covered many things, including the influence of his previous life, which was unavoidable for anyone. For example, Messi, Kaká, and Pato were all stars Ethan had greatly admired in his past life. How could he suddenly stop liking them after coming to this world?
Ethan tried to become friends with the players because Mourinho was very strict and always managed to keep them disciplined, but Ethan was not the kind of person who could always wear a cold expression.
He preferred an optimistic and friendly smile.
Walking along the path between the first-team and youth-team training grounds, Ethan heard the sound of a ball being struck in the distance.
He walked over curiously and found Ishmael practising free kicks alone.
Although this strong young player was tall, he was very fast. Whenever Ethan saw him, he could not help thinking of Usain Bolt. Bolt was also very tall and very quick.
Ishmael's technique was excellent. The only thing he lacked was shooting ability.
Cassell's assessment of him was that he was a genius at off-the-ball movement and an idiot in front of goal.
This guy was like Andy Cole of Manchester United, always wasting countless good chances before finally taking one that could barely even be called a chance.
He was also a little like Ibrahimović. Either he scored a spectacular goal, or he did not score at all. But if he did score, it was always absolutely brilliant.
However, Cassell had also said that if Ishmael could not improve this weakness by using more basic, ordinary, but practical techniques to improve his shooting accuracy, then he would definitely not become an excellent striker.
Cassell might even suggest that Ishmael switch to winger, because his stamina was excellent and he was fast.
Free kick after free kick left Ishmael's foot.
His free kicks were terrible, but he seemed to enjoy practising them. The power was immense. Free kicks from big players always carried great force, a little like long-range shooters such as Roberto Carlos.
"Ishmael, aren't you going to rest yet?" Ethan walked over and asked with a caring smile.
Ishmael turned around, saw that it was Ethan, and shook his head.
He knew Ethan and Curtis were close, so his relationship with Ethan was not particularly close. In fact, his relationships with the other players in the team were also quite ordinary.
Even in the youth team, apart from training and matches, he rarely socialized with them.
"Not going home to help today?" Ethan asked again.
Ishmael's family background was not well-off. Although the club provided subsidies, his parents still had to work hard. After school, apart from training, Ishmael usually helped out at home, earned some extra money, and was even said to often help nearby shops with deliveries.
"No. I told my dad I'd stay at the club for an extra half hour!" Ishmael gritted his teeth and struck another free kick.
This time, it successfully hit the target he had aimed at, and a hint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.
Extra training was common among many first-team players.
For example, Juninho always practised more after training, while others went to the indoor football hall or the game room in the training building to play video games.
But Ishmael coming here to practise free kicks made Ethan quite impressed.
Ethan quietly watched Ishmael take free kick after free kick.
The boy seemed to treat Ethan as if he were not there, simply practising on his own. However, his free-kick ability was truly hard to praise.
"Hey, Ishmael, have you ever properly learned how to take free kicks?" Ethan suddenly felt a headache coming on.
Watching Ishmael take free kicks felt like a form of torture.
It was a completely different experience from watching Juninho take free kicks. They were two extremes.
Ishmael paused, shook his head, and wanted to say something, but in the end, he did not. He continued kicking the ball in silence.
"You can't keep doing it this way, Ishmael. You know that, right? That's not how you take free kicks!" Ethan said, putting on the air of an expert.
Ishmael froze for a moment, then turned to look at Ethan.
His expression seemed to be asking for guidance, or perhaps saying, "Boss, why don't you show me?"
Ethan felt utterly helpless.
If he could take free kicks, he would have become a professional player long ago. Why would he be an owner?
"I can't take them either, but Juninho is a master at it. I've seen him take countless free kicks, and I know it isn't done this way.
"It requires technique. You can't develop a good free kick just by practising with brute force!"
Ishmael listened very carefully, looking up at Ethan with some expectation.
Ethan understood that look.
He knew Ishmael's personality.
In fact, he understood the personalities of most of the players in the team because he genuinely interacted with them, cared about them, and tried to understand each one.
So Ethan knew that Ishmael would not take the initiative to ask for help.
"How about this? I know Juninho practises free kicks on the first-team pitch after every training session. Perhaps I can talk to him and ask him to come to the youth team for extra training. At the same time, he can guide you on your free-kick technique. What do you think?"
Ishmael remained expressionless and said nothing. He only nodded silently, then turned away.
A moment later, two quiet words were heard.
"Thank you!"
Ethan suddenly smiled after hearing that.
He walked over and stood beside Ishmael, as if the two of them were close friends.
"Tell me, Ishmael, why do you want to practise free kicks?"
Ishmael was silent for a moment, but his hands could not help clenching into fists.
He gritted his teeth and said, word by word, "Because I want to beat Curtis!"
Ethan was stunned.
He could tell that this was Ishmael's belief, the force constantly pushing him to improve.
(To be continued.)