Soccer System: All the Skills, One Player!

The Brighton dressing room was buzzing with excitement. It was the first home game of the season, and the team knew the challenge would be monumental. Their opponents? Manchester City's Under-20s. Although they were young, they carried with them the weight of a name that inspired respect and awe in those days. Everyone at Brighton knew it would not be a simple game.

Lucas was sitting on a bench, tying his boots more tightly than necessary. Next to him, Arthur was also getting ready, but with slower movements, as if he was deep in thought.

"Have you heard of Phil Foden?" asked Raphael, breaking the silence as he finished fixing his uniform. "He's their number 10. They say he has an absurd vision of the game, like Iniesta, you know?"

"That's not all," added Denis, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. "I read in an article that he can play in various positions in midfield and attack. If he's given too much space, we're screwed."

Lucas shook his head, frowning. "Then we can't let him think. Constant pressure. No rest."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Of course, he knew who Phil Foden was, perhaps better than anyone else in that dressing room, because he knew he would become a big star.

Aidan, the goalkeeper, raised his head as he adjusted his gloves. "You also know that Sancho plays with them, right? Jadon Sancho. Fast, skillful and unpredictable. If he appears in my area, he'll be a problem."

"Sancho?" Loki let out a short, nervous laugh. "Man, I saw some videos of him on YouTube. He dribbles like the ball is glued to his foot. We'd better double up on him."

Coach Eddie entered the dressing room, interrupting the conversation. He carried a tactical board in one hand and a clipboard in the other. His presence immediately brought silence, and all eyes turned to him.

"Listen, guys. I know Manchester City is a great team, but so are we. This is our field, our game. They may have individual talents, but soccer is played as a team. And today, that's what we're going to show."

Alex, the assistant coach, added: "We need to neutralize Foden and Sancho. But remember: if we only focus on them, other players will emerge. After all, they're just the points. They have a defender, Eric García, who is incredible at anticipating moves. Be smart and not leave any clues about our movements."

Daniel sighed, running a hand through his hair. "They seem to have an entire team of stars. But we're not here for nothing. Let's show them we can compete."

Eddie smiled when he heard that. "Exactly. And it's with that mindset that we're going to take the field. Remember: stay compact, use the wings to escape pressure and trust each other. Now, everyone ready?"

A chorus of voices replied firmly: "Yes, coach!"

-:-

The pitch at Brighton's training center was spotless. The grass looked like a green carpet. The smell of wet earth mingled with the booming sound of the stands, which were packed with local fans. Among them were youngsters from the Seyek institute, and soccer enthusiasts, eager to see Brighton U20's take on Manchester City's promising talents.

Raphael was standing next to Miguel, adjusting the bandage around his ankle, when something caught his eye.

In the stands, he spotted Marcelli, surrounded by some friends, laughing at something one of them had just said. Her smile was infectious, and Raphael felt his heart racing. He raised his hand in a cheerful wave, trying to get her attention.

Marcelli noticed him almost immediately, returning the gesture with a smile that seemed to light up the room even more. Miguel, noticing the interaction, nudged Raphael with his elbow and joked:

"Focus on the game, Romeo. She'll be there later."

Raphael laughed briefly, but didn't reply. His nervousness about the game was now mixed with an excitement that he couldn't hide.

Meanwhile, Lucas, who was standing near the entrance to the tunnel leading to the pitch. He turned his head almost by instinct and saw Lucy sitting in the stands, talking to some friends.

Lucy noticed him looking at her and, with a slight, discreet smile, raised one of her hands in a little wave.

Lucas hesitated for a moment, but responded with an equally discreet wave, trying not to attract the attention of his colleagues around him. His stomach knotted up because it was his first game in front of their fans, but he took a deep breath, pushing the thought away. It was time to focus.

Coach Eddie approached, interrupting any distractions.

"Remember, lads, the first home game of the season is always special. Let's show why we're here. Brighton is more than a name. It's our pride. High pressure from the first minute, and we'll attack through the middle, as we've trained. I want intensity and compactness. Is everyone clear?"

"Yes, sir!" they replied in unison, the players joining in a circle before entering the pitch.

The stands erupted in cheers and shouts as the two teams stepped onto the pitch.

Manchester City, in their impeccable sky blue uniforms, looked like an organized machine. Their attitude was confident, almost arrogant.

Brighton, however, entered with their chests puffed out. The navy and white combination of their uniforms shone in the sun, and the players were determined to show that they would not be intimidated.

The referee blew the whistle, and the game began.

From the first few minutes, Manchester City had a style of play that dominated possession.

Phil Foden, in the number 10 shirt, was orchestrating every move with precise passes. His movements were elegant, almost like a dance, as he avoided the pressure of Felix and Denis in midfield.

Jadon Sancho, on the left wing, was a constant nightmare for Loki, who did everything he could to keep up with his opponent's quick and unpredictable dribbles.

"Close him down! Close him down!" shouted Eddie from the sidelines, gesturing for Loki and Felix to double up on Sancho.

Even so, the opposing winger found a gap and crossed into the area. The ball looked perfect, but Anton, the Brighton goalkeeper, leapt like a feline, grabbing it firmly before the opposing striker could reach it.

"Well done, Anton!" shouted his teammates, as the goalkeeper quickly put the ball into play with a long throw.

Lucas received the pass in midfield. He deftly turned to get rid of Eric García's marker, feeling the warmth of the fans in the stands. With a precise touch, he passed to Denis, who spotted Miguel shooting in from the right.

"Go, Miguel!" shouted Denis, launching the ball deep. Miguel ran like lightning, reaching it near the end line.

With a strong, low cross, he put the ball into the box. Arthur was well placed, but the opposing defender cleared at the last moment.

The game continued at an intense pace. Brighton didn't have as much possession as City, but they made up for it with an organized defense and fast counter-attacks. Raphael, on the left, was a constant threat, using his ability to dribble and create space.

The crowd cheered Brighton's every move, trying to push the players forward. Although Manchester City controlled possession, Brighton showed courage in their attacks and discipline in defense.

The major difference, however, was clear: Manchester City was an extremely mature team without the ball. With every misplaced pass or recovery, they reorganized in seconds, closing down the spaces like an invisible wall.

Phil Foden had been quiet until then, seeming to observe the game with the patience of a predator. Lucas was constantly studying him, knowing that at some point the young playmaker would do something that would change the game. Foden, however, seemed in no hurry. He moved around the pitch, offering passing options, but without forcing plays. It was almost as if he was waiting for Brighton to expose themselves.

Miguel again tried to speed up play on the right, running at the City full-back. He got a corner, and the crowd erupted in applause, but the move was thwarted by the opponent's solid defense.

On the counter-attack, City showed why they were so respected. The ball was quickly won back by Eric García, who laid the ball off to Sancho on the left. Loki and Felix doubled up, forcing Sancho to drop back. Brighton had time to reorganize.

And then it happened. The ball fell to Phil Foden, who was positioned between the midfield line and the attack. He received a low pass and, with a subtle touch, turned his body to evade Denis, who was coming at him at speed. It was a simple but flawless move.

"Close him down!" shouted Lucas, running to cover the space.

Foden raised his head and saw Sancho shooting in from the left. With a three-fingered pass, he sent the ball through two lines of defense, reaching his teammate at speed. The touch was so precise that Sancho didn't even have to adjust to his run. The fans held their breath as the opposing winger broke into the box.

Anton, on the lookout, was quick to get out of the way and close down the angle. Sancho tried a cross, but Anton saved with his legs to keep the ball out of danger. Even so, the move had been a wake-up call for Brighton. Foden didn't need many touches to unsettle the entire defense.