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Morning arrived with the familiar routine of training. Mateo woke up early, determined to tackle his new task:
Daily Task: Complete 10 successful dribbles. Reward: 1 Stat Point.
He headed to the pitch 30 minutes before the others arrived, carrying a bag of cones he'd borrowed from the equipment room. Alone, he set up a zigzag course and began weaving through the cones.
Dribbling Attributes:
Ball Control: 53
Dribbling: 55
Agility: 54
Balance: 55
Each turn felt stiff, and his touches were slightly off. He stumbled twice before completing a clean run, but he didn't let it discourage him. By the time his teammates arrived, Mateo had completed several runs, improving his rhythm.
"Alvarez, what are you doing out here so early?" Coach Marc asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Just…working on my touch," Mateo replied, trying not to sound too eager.
"Good. Keep it up," Coach said, walking away.
It was a small moment, but Mateo felt a flicker of pride.
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Training Session: The Focus on Dribbling
The session began with close-control drills, perfect for Mateo's task. Players moved through tight spaces, keeping the ball glued to their feet while avoiding defenders.
Lucas Vargas breezed through the drill with a smirk, his Ball Control: 66 and Agility: 62 on full display. "Watch and learn, Alvarez," he taunted.
Ignoring the jab, Mateo focused on his own movements. The system kept track of every successful dribble:
Progress: 6/10 Dribbles.
When it was his turn to take on a defender, Mateo squared up against Miguel Ortega, a burly midfielder with Strength: 65 and Aggression: 63. Mateo hesitated for a moment but remembered his slight boost in acceleration. He faked left and quickly darted right, slipping past Miguel with surprising ease.
Progress: 7/10 Dribbles.
By the end of the drill, Mateo had completed the task. The system chimed:
Task Complete. 1 Stat Point Earned. Select an attribute to improve.
Mateo didn't hesitate this time. He chose Agility, raising it from 54 to 55. The improvement felt small, but during the next drill, he noticed his turns were slightly sharper.
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A Test in the Scrimmage
The final part of training was a scrimmage. Mateo was placed on the reserve team, as usual, against the starting eleven. Coach Marc watched closely, evaluating players for the upcoming friendly against Espanyol.
The reserves were outmatched in every department. Lucas dominated the game, showcasing his Finishing: 70 and Positioning: 68 with two quick goals. Mateo, playing on the left wing, struggled to make an impact.
Halfway through the game, the ball came to him near the sideline. Raul Diaz, a right-back with Defending: 62 and Strength: 60, closed him down quickly. Mateo activated the system's Scouting Mode to analyze Raul's weaknesses:
Pace: 56
Balance: 52
Seeing the gap, Mateo shifted the ball to his stronger right foot and accelerated down the wing. His improved Acceleration: 59 helped him get a step ahead, but Raul recovered quickly, using his strength to shove Mateo off the ball.
Frustrated, Mateo brushed himself off. "Not good enough," he muttered to himself.
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The Dorms: Reflection and Resolve
That evening, Mateo sat on his bed, reviewing his stats again. Despite completing two tasks, he still felt far behind his teammates. His Overall Rating hadn't changed, and his weaknesses—like Strength: 47 and Composure: 48—were glaring.
His phone buzzed. It was Diego, his best friend.
"How's it going over there?" Diego asked, his voice cheerful.
"Same as always," Mateo said, trying to sound indifferent.
"Don't lie. I saw on Instagram that you're playing in the Espanyol match."
Mateo hesitated. He hadn't been told he'd be in the squad yet. "Where did you hear that?"
"Lucas posted it on his story. Looks like you've got your shot, man. Don't blow it."
Mateo hung up, his heart racing. If Diego was right, this could be his chance to prove himself.
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A New Mission
That night, the system presented a new task:
Special Mission: Earn the coach's praise during the Espanyol match. Reward: 3 Stat Points + 10 System Points.
The stakes were higher than ever. Mateo stared at the glowing screen, determination burning in his chest. He wasn't just playing to survive anymore—he was playing to win.
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The days leading up to the friendly match against Espanyol were intense. Mateo pushed himself harder than ever, not just to complete his daily tasks but to refine every detail of his game. The system had become an invaluable tool, helping him identify areas for improvement and breaking his overwhelming challenges into manageable steps.
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The Training Ground
La Masia's sprawling training complex was alive with activity. Coaches barked instructions, balls thudded against nets, and players pushed themselves to their limits. Mateo focused on close-control drills and positioning exercises, intent on making progress in every session.
Daily Task: Maintain 75% pass accuracy in today's scrimmage. Reward: 1 Stat Point.
Passing drills were first on the schedule. Mateo partnered with Alejandro Gutierrez, a defensive midfielder known for his sharp vision (Vision: 64) and precise short passes (Short Passing: 66).
"You need to relax more," Alejandro said as Mateo overhit a pass. "It's not about power. Look where you want the ball to go and guide it there."
Mateo adjusted, focusing on keeping his passes simple and accurate. Slowly, his numbers improved:
Short Passing: 53 → 54
Long Passing: 50 → 51
Vision: 51 → 52
"Better," Alejandro said with a nod.
In the scrimmage later that day, Mateo applied what he'd learned. Instead of rushing his decisions, he played short, controlled passes to keep possession. The system tracked his progress in real-time:
Pass Accuracy: 76%. Task Complete.
1 Stat Point Earned. Select an attribute to improve.
This time, Mateo chose Reactions, raising it from 50 to 51.
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Conversations with Coach Marc
Coach Marc had noticed the change in Mateo's attitude. After training, he called him aside.
"You've been working harder lately," Marc said. "What's changed?"
Mateo hesitated. He couldn't exactly say, I have a system tracking my stats. "I just realized I needed to step up," he said instead.
"Good. Keep it up," Marc said. "You're on the preliminary squad for Espanyol, but don't get comfortable. Every minute you're on the pitch, you'll be fighting for your future here."
The words hit Mateo hard, but they also motivated him.
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Relationships and Rivalries
The academy wasn't just about football—it was a melting pot of personalities, friendships, and rivalries. Mateo had always been a loner, but recent improvements in his game drew attention.
Lucas Vargas, the star striker, wasn't pleased. "You think a couple of good practices will make you a starter?" he sneered one day after training. "Stay out of my way."
Alejandro Gutierrez, on the other hand, had taken a liking to Mateo. "Ignore Lucas," he said. "He's just scared someone might steal his spotlight."
Then there were the younger players, like Samuel, a 14-year-old winger who idolized Mateo for his work ethic. "Can you show me how you dribble?" Samuel asked one evening in the dorms.
Mateo obliged, feeling a sense of responsibility for the first time.
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The System Expands
That night, the system revealed new features:
[SYSTEM UPGRADE]
Stat History: Track improvements over time.
Opponent Analysis: View detailed stats of opposing players.
Mateo tested the Opponent Analysis feature, pulling up the profile of Espanyol's star midfielder, Jaime Moreno:
Overall Rating: 62
Pace: 60
Dribbling: 58
Defending: 64
Physical: 63
Moreno's strength and stamina were clearly his biggest assets, but his relatively low Composure: 52 and Agility: 55 gave Mateo a glimmer of hope.
New Task: Exploit Moreno's weaknesses in the match. Reward: 2 Stat Points.
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The Night Before the Match
Mateo sat alone in his dorm room, reviewing his stats:
Main Attributes:
Overall Rating: 52 → 53
Pace: 58 → 59
Dribbling: 55 → 56
Passing: 53 → 54
Reactions: 50 → 51
He could see the progress, but it still felt like a drop in the ocean compared to his teammates.
A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. It was Alejandro. "Ready for tomorrow?"
"I think so," Mateo said.
"Good. Remember, it's just a game. Don't overthink it." Alejandro's advice was simple, but it calmed Mateo's nerves.
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Mateo's Family
That evening, Mateo called his mother. "You're playing against Espanyol?" she asked, her voice a mix of excitement and worry.
"Maybe. I'm on the squad, but I don't know if I'll get minutes."
"You will," she said firmly. "And when you do, show them what you're made of."
Alejandro, overhearing the conversation, chimed in. "Don't embarrass us, little bro."
"I won't," Mateo replied, clenching his fists. He had a chance to prove himself, not just to the coaches and his teammates but to his family as well.
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