As the week passed, Xavier continued holding school training sessions. It was just as he said, they would discuss tactics in the morning the do several training drills after school finished.
Xavier continued to impress Alexis with his broad football knowledge and Alexis continued to read through Xavier's tactics every night. He was probably the person that understood Xavier's instructions the most in the team. Unfortunately understanding something and carrying it out were two different things.
To play how Xavier wanted him to play, Alexis would have to adapt a lot. He was a typical number ten. He liked exploiting pockets of space in the opponents defense and creating shooting opportunities for himself.
According to how Xavier wanted him to play, he would have to accomplish everything with passes. He wasn't to go on to many dribbling runs and it requires him to combine frequently with wide players like the wingers and full back. This required him to have a high amount of chemistry with them but he had never played with the before.
In regards to this problem, Xavier had tried his best to improve the cohesion between them. He often scheduled them to do training drills together and they ran scenario training together to improve their reactions to various situations.
The other players in the midfield also did joint training drills with the center backs and other defensive members. At times he would randomize it. He didn't want any of his players to seem like strangers on the pitch.
At the beginning of the week, Xavier announced that they would play their first friendly against Woodbridge International in the middle of the week. The announcement fired up a lot of the players and they prepared themselves for the match.
Alexis in particular over exerted himself. He did various exercises in a bid to improve his physique and body strength. He didn't need a soothsayer to tell him that he wasn't strong enough. He also tried to improve other things like his ball control and passing. He also brought along three new players from the lower classes. They wouldn't be included in the official squad but Xavier wanted them to train with the team, something about preparing for the future.
The day before the match, Xavier gathered all of them inside the locker room in the morning.
"Alright, as most of you might've figured, we won't be doing any physical training this morning. Tomorrow's a match and even though it's just a friendly, I like to have all my players in peak physical conditions before a match". Xavier said. "Today we're also going to revise the tactics that we're going to use. I've sent details about the starting lineup and the bench. If you didn't make the match day squad, then try harder next time or if you're done weak willed twat, fuck off! I have three lads on the outside looking in and I'm sure that they'll want to be part of the main squad. It's really your choice".
After speaking for a few more minutes, Xavier dismissed everyone. Alexis wanted behind for Trey and they walked to class together.
Over the last week, Alexis had warned up to Trey. After having him chattering beside him for a week or so, going anywhere without him seemed quite dull. He even butt in occasionally to tease him. Without him even realizing it, he had started to consider Trey as a friend.
***
Inside a medium sized room, there was a huge table placed in the epicenter. There were figures sat all around the table, all of them paying attention to the woman speaking in front of them.
The woman had blonde hair and blue eyes. She was currently gesturing to the screen beside her, displaying charts and other ideas.
Alexis's mom had a smile on her face as she finished her presentation. "Does anyone have any questions".
The room was silent for a bit. A hand in the far corner shot up. Without even waiting for Akexis's mom to call him out, he started talking. "Sandra, everything you're saying sounds enticing, but if you really want to start a new agency, things are going to be particularly tough". The person said.
He stood up to reveal his self to be a pot bellied middle aged man. "You keep highlighting the potential profit that investors are going to make but that's what it is... Potential! You've said what we're going to gain if it all goes to plan but you've not said how we're going to get it. What about publicity. Who is going to spread the word?"
"As I said, we're going to start small. I've gotten in contact with an old friend of mine. He coaches and academy in Liverpool. He has two talents that have been scouted by professional teams. We start from there". Sandra said. "If we get them a good deal, no doubt our names are going to spread. Eventually we should find ourselves capable clients".
"And what if we don't?" The middle aged man snickered.
Sandra shrugged. "They don't call it a risk for no reason". She turned her attention from the middle aged man to the rest of the people in the room. "So with all I've said who wants to invest. This could be the next big thing when it comes to the world of athlete agency".
There was a bit of hesitation on everyone's face for quite a few seconds. Eventually, someone raised their hands. "I'll invest a hundred thousand pounds in your agency. I like what you've said so far and I think it's going to go far". The man said. "If you need anymore here's my card, call me". The man said. He dropped his card on the table.
After the man that spoke, nobody seemed to talk again. Obviously they shared the same concern as the middle aged man. It didn't matter to Sandra though. The man that invested had given her everything she needed. For the moment at least.
As for why she was opening an agency, Alexis was getting to the stage of his career where he would have to negotiate with clubs. She didn't want him to start searching for for an agency when the time came, she wanted him to already have one.
That was probably why she did anything, so that he would have everything easy. It was also why she decided to start an agency, to make things easy for him. That and the sweet profits she was doing to make when everything picks up.