Ye Chen had always been taught to show leniency when possible, believing that retreating could lead to broader opportunities.
However, without strength, such actions were often mistaken for weakness!
In competitive sports, strength reigns supreme. Only by enhancing his abilities could he survive in the cutthroat world of football.
"Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing a random task. Task rating: S-Class. Reward upgraded. The host has received a Silver Chest!"
Hearing the system's notification, a slight smile appeared on Ye Chen's face.
The system was his foundation for becoming stronger.
Of course, apart from relying on the system, he was fully committed to training and growth.
If he could rapidly develop, even breaking into Manchester United's first team wouldn't be out of reach!
After all, he was the man who held the "Guaranteed Long-Range Shot" card!
"Open the Silver Chest!" Ye Chen silently commanded in his mind.
"Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining an A-Class Skill Card: The Divine Feint!"
As the system's voice sounded, Ye Chen's mind was instantly flooded with information and techniques about the Divine Feint.
The Divine Feint, a somewhat exaggerated name, is essentially a sharp stop-and-change-of-direction move.
It was famously used by Lionel Messi during a UEFA Champions League match to floor Boateng, becoming one of Messi's signature dribbling skills, often dubbed a "criminally deceptive move."
The key to this skill lies in two words: sudden stop.
While controlling the ball, the player suddenly makes a feint, changing the ball's trajectory, causing the defender to lose balance and enabling a breakthrough.
Ye Chen now had detailed scenarios in mind about when to deploy this technique during a game.
Of course, he needed to practice it during upcoming training or matches to master it fully.
The skill demanded exceptional individual ability from the player, especially in body coordination and agility. The faster one's footwork and the better their balance, the more effective the move becomes.
Thus...
Ye Chen eagerly opened his attribute panel.
Sure enough, he noticed changes in three attributes.
First, his attacking ability shot up to 73!
Previously, after obtaining the S-Class "Guaranteed Long-Range Shot" card, his shooting and kicking power had increased, raising his attacking ability to 68.
Now, the A-Class Divine Feint card improved his dribbling and body balance.
His dribbling rose from 75 to 80, and body balance increased from 61 to 75.
This boost brought his attacking ability to 73, and his overall ability rating to 67!
Based on Ye Chen's understanding of the Premier League, a 70+ overall rating was sufficient to secure a substitute position on a relegation-threatened team. Reaching 80 could even qualify him for Manchester United's first team!
The system was undeniably powerful...
Of course, this was also a result of Ye Chen's hard work.
Now, the only question was: who would be the first victim of his Divine Feint?
"Gather around!"
While Ye Chen was communicating with the system, Solskjær's voice rang out. His daughter was sitting on a bench in the background, using an iPad to review footage of the earlier match.
Her father had dismissed Ye Chen's hat-trick as mere luck, but she didn't quite agree. She wanted to analyze his performance throughout the game.
The players quickly got up from the ground and formed two lines.
"I'm very disappointed with the earlier training match!" Solskjær said through gritted teeth. "Especially Team A! How many times have I told you: stay calm when you're behind! But what did you do?"
"All Team A members will run five extra laps!"
"What? No way..."
"Boss, are you trying to kill us?"
"Seriously? Running five laps after a game? I might actually collapse!"
Hearing their complaints, Solskjær, usually known for his mild demeanor, darkened his expression. "Make it ten laps!"
The players fell silent.
They had always taken advantage of Solskjær's leniency, but now that he was angry, no one dared to push their luck.
Once everyone quieted down, Solskjær continued, "In two days, we face Liverpool U18. Based on your current performance, can you beat Liverpool? Remember, this match will be at Old Trafford. I can't afford the embarrassment if you lose!"
"Tomorrow is the final day of training. After that, I will announce the squad for the Liverpool match. Make good use of your time!"
"Alright, back to training!"
Although the match was over, the day's training wasn't.
Team A began their laps, while Team B practiced passing, dribbling, and shooting.
Ye Chen approached Januzaj. "Hey, Adnan, can you help me practice dribbling?"
"Huh?" Januzaj raised an eyebrow. "I'm not exactly good at defending."
Exactly what I wanted... Ye Chen chuckled inwardly. Practicing against a weaker defender first would build his confidence before facing tougher opponents.
Of course, Ye Chen didn't say this aloud. Instead, he humbly replied, "I'm not great at dribbling either. So, I'll practice dribbling while you practice defending. Modern football wingers need to track back and defend too!"
"Alright..." Januzaj agreed, though he felt something was off.
The practice began.
Ye Chen advanced with the ball, and Januzaj moved to intercept him.
As they closed in, Ye Chen suddenly slowed his pace. Naturally, Januzaj also decelerated to adopt a defensive stance.
At that moment, Ye Chen sharply nudged the ball to his left and accelerated, breaking through in an instant!
This subtle change in rhythm left Januzaj struggling to turn around. By the time he did, Ye Chen had already slipped past him!
Januzaj stopped, visibly frustrated. "Ye, is this what you call 'not great at dribbling'?"
"Hey, I just learned this!" Ye Chen grinned, keeping the ball at his feet. "What do you think? Not bad, right?"
Using the Divine Feint for the first time, Ye Chen realized the skill didn't require practiceâit was plug-and-play!
Januzaj was unconvinced. "Again!"
Ye Chen raised an eyebrow and continued dribbling.
This time, he didn't feint left but shifted to the right.
Januzaj attempted a quick turn, only to lose his footing and fall to the ground with a thud.
From afar, Luna had been watching. When she saw Januzaj fall, she couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Her interest in this young Chinese player was growing.
After all, executing such a feint so seamlessly was no ordinary feat.
Unaware of Luna's observation, Januzaj was determined. Falling only fueled his resolve.
"Again!"
Round after round, Ye Chen outmaneuvered Januzaj. However, Januzaj began picking up on subtleties and managed to block Ye Chen's moves a few times.
This back-and-forth practice quietly elevated both players' skills...
And all of it was noticed by Solskjær.
These two kids... not bad at all!