Three weeks passed in what felt like a blur of training sessions, tactical meetings, and gradual relationship rebuilding. Cruyff had settled into a new rhythm—still the team's most technically gifted player, but now also their most supportive teammate.
The system had taken notice of his development beyond pure football skills:
[Current Stats - Level 2]
[Vision: 69/100]
[Passing Accuracy: 78/100]
[Through Ball: 62/100]
[Free Kick: 44/100]
[Dribbling: 47/100]
[Physical: 41/100]
[Leadership: 28/100] *New Stat*
[Team Chemistry Influence: 15/100] *New Stat*
The addition of leadership metrics showed the system was evolving with his playing style. He wasn't just improving as an individual—he was learning to elevate everyone around him.
Forest's next fixture was a local derby against Mansfield Town U18s, and Williams had promised the players that good performances would earn consideration for a friendly against the first team's development squad. The carrot was enough to ensure every training session had been conducted at maximum intensity.
"Right, lads," Williams announced after Thursday's session. "Team for Saturday."
He read out the starting eleven, and Cruyff felt a quiet satisfaction when his name was called again as the central attacking midfielder. But more importantly, he noticed the relaxed atmosphere as the team was announced. No tension, no sideways glances, no sense that anyone felt unfairly treated.
[Team Chemistry: 79%]
[Effect: Teammates more likely to attempt ambitious runs and combinations]
Marcus Reid had been in excellent form during training, his partnership with Cruyff growing stronger each session. The striker had learned to trust that the ball would come, even when the pass seemed impossible, while Cruyff had learned to deliver it at the precise moment Marcus expected it.
"Looking forward to Saturday," Marcus said as they walked to the car park together. "Feel like we're really starting to click."
"You've been making perfect runs," Cruyff replied. "Makes my job easy when you're always in the right place."
"That's the thing though—you make it feel like I'm always in the right place. Even when I'm not sure myself, your passes somehow find me."
It was an astute observation. In his previous life, Cruyff had developed an almost telepathic understanding with certain teammates, able to play passes to where they would be rather than where they were. The fact that Marcus was beginning to feel that same connection suggested their partnership had real potential.
[Partner Chemistry: Marcus Reid - 67%]
[Effect: Improved timing on through balls and crosses]
The match against Mansfield arrived under perfect conditions—crisp autumn air, firm pitch, decent crowd of parents and club officials. Cruyff noticed several familiar faces among the spectators, including a few scout types with notebooks.
Williams had set up the team in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Cruyff as the central attacking midfielder behind Marcus as the lone striker. Jamie Torres and Ben Crawford provided width on either flank, while Danny Walsh anchored the midfield alongside Tom Bradley, a steady player who'd worked his way into the team through consistent performances.
"Remember," Williams addressed the team in the changing room, "Mansfield like to press high and play direct. Don't get dragged into a scrappy game. Move the ball quickly, find the spaces between their lines, and trust your technical ability."
[Pre-Match Analysis]
[Mansfield Town U18s - Predicted Formation: 4-4-2]
[Key Strengths: Physical presence, direct play, set pieces]
[Key Weaknesses: Vulnerable to quick passing combinations, slow to react to movement]
[Recommended Approach: Patient build-up, exploit space between midfield and defense]
The first twenty minutes unfolded exactly as predicted. Mansfield pressed aggressively, forcing Forest to play longer passes than they preferred. But their high line left space in behind, and Cruyff began to identify the moments when that space could be exploited.
In the twenty-third minute, he received the ball from Danny Walsh under minimal pressure. Mansfield's midfield had committed to pressing Danny, leaving Cruyff in a pocket of space thirty yards from goal.
He looked up and saw Marcus beginning a run across the Mansfield defense. But instead of the obvious through ball, Cruyff played a simple pass wide to Jamie Torres on the right wing.
Mansfield's left-back moved to close down Jamie, but Cruyff had already begun his next movement. He drifted left, dragging one of Mansfield's central midfielders with him, creating space for Tom Bradley to advance from deep.
Jamie played the ball back to Tom, who immediately found Cruyff with a precise pass. Now Cruyff had what he'd been waiting for—space to turn and face the Mansfield defense with Marcus in perfect position for a through ball.
The pass was inch-perfect, splitting two defenders and finding Marcus in stride. The striker took one touch to control and another to slot the ball past the advancing goalkeeper.
1-0 to Forest.
[Assist Recorded: Cruyff Jensen to Marcus Reid]
[Move Analysis: 4-pass combination initiated by patient play]
"Yes!" Marcus shouted as he ran toward Cruyff. "That was brilliant! How did you know I'd be there?"
"Because you always make that run when their center-backs get caught square," Cruyff grinned. "Just had to create the right moment for it."
The goal settled Forest into their rhythm. With the pressure off, they began to play with more freedom, moving the ball crisply and creating space for each other through intelligent movement.
In the thirty-eighth minute, Cruyff created his second assist of the match. Ben Crawford had picked up the ball on the left wing but was facing two Mansfield defenders with limited options.
Instead of trying to beat them both or playing safe with a backwards pass, Ben spotted Cruyff's movement into the penalty area and delivered a perfectly weighted cross.
Cruyff's first touch brought the ball under control, but he was facing away from goal with a defender tight behind him. In his previous life, he might have tried to turn and shoot. Instead, he played a delicate pass back across the six-yard box to where Jamie Torres had made a late run.
Jamie's finish was emphatic.
2-0.
[Assists: 2/2]
[Daily Quest Progress: Multiple goal involvements achieved]
The second half became an exhibition. With a comfortable lead, Forest could focus on playing their football without the pressure of chasing the game. Cruyff dropped deeper, spraying passes around the pitch and orchestrating moves with increasing confidence.
In the sixty-second minute, he played a defense-splitting pass that put Ben Crawford through on goal, but the winger's shot was saved by an excellent stop from the Mansfield goalkeeper.
Seven minutes later, his corner kick found Alex Hartwell unmarked at the far post, but the center-back's header crashed against the crossbar.
The chances kept coming, and while not all of them resulted in goals, each one reinforced the growing understanding between Cruyff and his teammates.
[Final Score: Nottingham Forest U18s 2-0 Mansfield Town U18s]
[Match Statistics: Cruyff Jensen]
[Passes: 52/57 (91% accuracy)]
[Assists: 2]
[Chances Created: 7]
[Key Passes: 5]
[Rating: 9.0/10]
[Post-Match Rewards:]
[Vision: +3 (72/100)]
[Passing Accuracy: +2 (80/100)]
[Leadership: +4 (32/100)]
[Team Chemistry Influence: +3 (18/100)]
Williams was pleased but measured in his post-match comments.
"Good performance today. You moved the ball well, created chances, and most importantly, you did it as a team. That's what I want to see consistently."
He pulled Cruyff aside as the players began to disperse.
"Three assists in two matches, seven chances created today alone. The development squad friendly I mentioned? You've earned your place."
[Achievement Unlocked: Development Squad Consideration]
[Next Challenge: Impress against older, more experienced players]
As Cruyff walked to the car park, he reflected on how much had changed in just a few weeks. The statistics were improving, the relationships were stronger, and most importantly, he was beginning to find the balance between individual brilliance and team success.
But he also knew this was just the beginning. Development squad football would be a significant step up, and beyond that lay the long path back to professional football and, ultimately, Arsenal.
[Career Progression Update]
[Current Status: Established U18 starter with development squad opportunity]
[Next Milestone: Consistent performance at development level]
[Long-term Goal: First team consideration (Estimated: 12-18 months)]
The system's timeline was ambitious but not unrealistic. If he could maintain this rate of improvement while continuing to elevate his teammates, the dream of returning to Arsenal might not be as distant as it seemed.