---
The Locker Room
After the Espanyol match, the mood in the locker room was jubilant. Players celebrated the win, with some breaking into chants and laughter. Mateo sat quietly at his corner, replaying the game in his mind.
"Hey, Alvarez!" Alejandro called out, tossing him a water bottle. "Nice assist, man. About time you showed us what you're made of."
Mateo smiled sheepishly. "Just trying to help the team."
"You're doing more than that," Alejandro said. "Keep it up."
Lucas Vargas, meanwhile, sat a few lockers away, scowling. Though he'd scored, his thunder had been stolen by Mateo's growing presence.
---
The Coach's Feedback
As the players filed out, Coach Marc stopped Mateo.
"Walk with me," he said.
The two strolled down the corridor leading to the team bus. "You did well today," Marc began. "But one good performance doesn't guarantee anything. You'll need to show consistency—on the training ground and in matches."
"I understand," Mateo replied.
"Good. Focus on building your confidence, but don't forget the basics—passing, positioning, and decision-making. I'll be watching."
As Marc walked off, the system chimed softly:
New Goal Unlocked: Earn a Starting Spot in the Barcelona Youth Team. Reward: +5 Stat Points.
---
The Bus Ride
On the bus ride back to La Masia, the atmosphere was quieter. Most players were lost in their thoughts or napping. Alejandro nudged Mateo.
"Lucas is mad at you, you know," Alejandro said.
"I noticed," Mateo replied.
"Don't let it bother you. He's just afraid of losing his spot."
Mateo shrugged. "I'm not here to compete with anyone. I just want to improve."
Alejandro smirked. "Good answer, but trust me, competition is everything here."
---
Later that evening, Mateo called his mom. "You should've seen it, Mom. I set up a goal!"
"I knew you'd do great," she said, pride evident in her voice. "Your brother was watching the live updates online. He wouldn't stop shouting about your assist."
"Tell him I said thanks," Mateo said, grinning.
His mother's tone turned serious. "I'm proud of you, Mateo, but don't forget why you're there. Hard work, discipline—it's what got you this far."
"I won't forget, Mom. Promise."
---
The next morning, Mateo felt the shift in the atmosphere at breakfast. Lucas Vargas sat with a few of his friends, whispering and occasionally glancing in Mateo's direction.
"Let it go, Lucas," one of them said. "It was just one game."
Lucas sneered. "He's just a benchwarmer who got lucky. We'll see how long that lasts."
Alejandro, noticing the tension, leaned over to Mateo. "Don't mind them. Just focus on your game."
Mateo nodded but couldn't shake the feeling that Lucas would make things difficult for him.
---
That evening, Mateo opened the system interface to review his progress:
Main Attributes:
Overall Rating: 54
Pace: 59
Dribbling: 57
Passing: 54
Agility: 56
Vision: 53
Composure: 51
Sub-Attributes:
Ball Control: 55
Crossing: 52
Positioning: 50
Reactions: 51
Strength: 48
System Points: 10
The system also presented a list of recommended purchases:
1. Skill: Quick Turns (5 System Points) – Improve agility in tight spaces.
2. Item: Lightweight Boots (10 System Points) – Boost Pace by +1 for one month.
3. Skill: Curved Passes (8 System Points) – Enhance passing range.
Mateo hesitated before spending his points. He decided to hold off until he had more experience with the system.
---
The team's next match was against Valencia's youth academy—a stronger opponent with a reputation for aggressive pressing. Coach Marc warned the players during a meeting.
"Valencia plays fast and physical," he said. "We'll need to match their intensity from the first whistle. Alvarez, I want you to focus on exploiting the spaces behind their fullbacks."
"Yes, Coach," Mateo replied, feeling the pressure mount.
The system chimed:
New Task: Win 5 duels against Valencia's defenders. Reward: +2 Stat Points.
---
---
The next day at La Masia, practice began with possession drills. Coach Marc split the players into small groups for rondos, with three players trying to win the ball from the rest. Mateo was placed with Alejandro, Lucas, and two others.
"Alvarez, keep the ball moving," Lucas barked as the drill started.
Mateo focused, making crisp one-touch passes. But as the ball came to him again, Lucas lunged in aggressively, clipping Mateo's ankle in the process.
"Oops," Lucas said with a smirk.
Alejandro stepped in. "What's your problem, Lucas?"
"No problem," Lucas said casually. "Just making sure Alvarez knows what real pressure feels like."
Mateo brushed it off, refusing to show any weakness. He got up and resumed the drill, determined to prove himself through his performance.
The system chimed:
Task Unlocked: Win the respect of all teammates. Reward: +3 Stat Points.
---
At lunch, Mateo sat with Alejandro and a few other friendly teammates. The topic naturally shifted to their upcoming match against Valencia.
"You're playing on the wing again, right?" Alejandro asked.
"Yeah," Mateo said. "Coach wants me to target their fullbacks."
"You'll need to watch out for Diego Fernandez," one of the other players added. "Their left-back is fast and strong. It won't be easy."
"Nothing is ever easy," Mateo said with a grin.
From the next table, Lucas's voice cut through the chatter. "If Alvarez struggles, maybe Coach will finally realize he's not ready for these games."
Alejandro turned to respond, but Mateo stopped him. "Let it go. I'll let my game do the talking."
---
That evening, unable to shake the tension with Lucas, Mateo stayed behind after official practice hours to work on his weaknesses. He focused on improving his Strength and Reactions, knowing he'd need both against Valencia's aggressive defense.
The system chimed during his drills:
New Attribute Growth: Strength +1.
New Attribute Growth: Reactions +1.
Alejandro showed up unexpectedly, carrying a water bottle and towel. "Figured you'd be here," he said.
"Just trying to get better," Mateo replied.
Alejandro nodded. "You're doing great, you know. Don't let Lucas get in your head. He's just scared you'll take his spot."
"I'm not here to take anyone's spot," Mateo said firmly. "I'm here to earn mine."
"That's the right attitude," Alejandro said, clapping him on the back.
---
Meanwhile, Lucas was venting his frustration to his closest friends in the dorms.
"Can you believe how much attention Alvarez is getting? One assist, and suddenly he's the team's golden boy," Lucas grumbled.
One of his friends tried to calm him down. "You're still the star forward, Lucas. The coaches know that."
"For now," Lucas said darkly. "But I'm not going to let some nobody take what's mine."
---
Over the next few days, Mateo worked on building stronger bonds with other teammates. During small-sided games, he made it a point to communicate more, offer encouragement, and celebrate their successes. Slowly, players began to warm up to him.
At breakfast one morning, Tomas, one of the midfielders, joined Mateo and Alejandro at their table. "Good game against Espanyol, Alvarez. That assist was class."
"Thanks, Tomas," Mateo said.
"We need that kind of creativity against Valencia," Tomas added. "Keep it up."
The system chimed:
Progress: Task 'Win the respect of all teammates' (2/5 completed).
---
A Private Talk with Coach Marc
The day before the Valencia match, Coach Marc called Mateo into his office.
"Alvarez, I've been impressed with your attitude and work ethic lately," Marc said. "But I need you to be ready for tomorrow. Valencia's defenders won't give you any space, and they'll target you physically."
"I've been preparing, Coach," Mateo said.
"I know. That's why I'm giving you 30 minutes in tomorrow's match. Use them wisely."
Mateo left the office feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. The system chimed softly:
New Goal Unlocked: Make a decisive impact against Valencia. Reward: +4 Stat Points.
---
Should we now transition to the Valencia match, or explore more team dynamics and training?