Lucas Tanaka knew he was playing well, but he felt a growing restlessness in his chest. It wasn't just the will to win, but a need to prove something - to himself and to others.
Jimenez's words echoed in his mind, like a shadow he couldn't shake off: "Being captain hindered my performance as a player."
He looked at the pitch in front of him, studying every movement, every possibility. The match was under control, but his goal - his goal - seemed increasingly essential to calm not his team, but his heart. It wasn't just out of pride. It was a way of reaffirming that he could carry the armband and be decisive at the same time.
His mind was racing to find an answer.
'If I score, they'll see. Everyone will see. I'm not just a leader; I'm a player who can change the game.'
