The development squad training session was scheduled for a Tuesday evening, under the floodlights at Forest's main training ground. As Cruyff walked toward the changing rooms, he could feel the difference in atmosphere immediately. These weren't teenagers playing for pride and potential—these were young men fighting for professional contracts, some already on the fringes of the first team.
[Environment Change Detected]
[Player Ages: 18-21 years]
[Competition Level: Significantly Higher]
[Recommendation: Observe first, adapt play style to increased pace and physicality]
Williams had given him a simple brief: "Don't try to be the star. Learn, contribute where you can, and show you belong."
In the changing room, Cruyff found himself assigned a peg between two players he recognized from matchday squads. Liam Morrison, a 20-year-old winger who'd made three first-team appearances, and Chris Davies, a central midfielder who'd been on the bench for the last two Championship matches.
"You're the kid from the U18s, right?" Morrison asked, not unkindly but with the casual superiority of someone two steps higher on the ladder.
"Cruyff Jensen," he replied, extending his hand.
"Yeah, Williams mentioned you. Says you can pick a pass." Morrison shook his hand with a grip that was probably stronger than necessary. "We'll see."
The training session began with possession drills, and Cruyff immediately felt the step up in quality. The passes were sharper, the movement more intelligent, the space tighter. Players who would have given him seconds to think at U18 level closed him down in half that time.
[Adaptation Required]
[Current Pace: Too slow for this level]
[Physical Strength: Insufficient against older players]
[Recommendation: Simplify game, focus on quick distribution]
During the first small-sided game, Cruyff tried to play his usual way—dropping deep, collecting the ball, surveying his options. But Chris Davies pressed him aggressively, using his superior strength to make the tackle and win possession.
"Come on, kid!" Davies called out. "This isn't youth football. Make your mind up quicker!"
The criticism stung, particularly because it was justified. Cruyff had been thinking like a 28-year-old in an adult body, but he was trapped in teenage muscles and reflexes.
For the next twenty minutes, he struggled to impose himself on the game. His passes were accurate but predictable. His movement was intelligent but not dynamic enough to create real space. He was playing within himself, and everyone could see it.
[Current Performance: 6.0/10]
[Issue: Overthinking, playing too cautiously]
[Team Chemistry: 45% (Low due to unfamiliarity)]
The breakthrough came during a set-piece routine. Forest were practicing corner kicks, with various players taking turns to deliver the ball into the penalty area. When Cruyff's turn came, he noticed something the older players had missed.
Their mock defense had settled into predictable positions—two players on the posts, three marking zonally, two picking up specific threats. But there was a gap just inside the near post, a space that would open up if the right movement was made.
Instead of aiming for the obvious target—the tall center-back attacking the far post—Cruyff clipped the ball into the near-post area with perfect timing. Jake Russell, a 19-year-old striker making his run, arrived exactly when the ball did and flicked it goalward.
The net bulged.
"Bloody hell!" Russell shouted, running toward Cruyff with arms raised. "How did you see that? I didn't even think I was in a good position!"
[Assist in Training: Rare Achievement]
[Recognition from Development Squad Players]
[Confidence: Slightly Restored]
Dave Coleman, the development squad coach, took notice. "Good ball, Jensen. That's the kind of thinking we need—seeing what others don't."
But the moment of triumph was short-lived. During the final exercise—an 11v11 scrimmage on a full-size pitch—Cruyff found himself isolated and ineffective. The game was faster, more physical, and his teammates weren't making the runs he anticipated.
In the sixty-fifth minute, he received the ball in space and spotted Morrison making a run down the right wing. The pass was perfect—exactly the right weight and timing. But Morrison was looking for a different ball entirely, expecting something earlier and more direct.
The pass rolled out of play.
"Jensen!" Morrison shouted in frustration. "I was looking for it twenty yards back! You held it too long!"
[Timing Disconnect with Development Squad Players]
[Issue: Different tactical understanding and expectations]
The session ended with Cruyff feeling deflated. He'd shown glimpses of his ability, but the overall performance had been underwhelming. As the players headed to the changing rooms, Coleman approached him.
"First session's always tough, lad. Different tempo, different expectations. You showed some nice touches, but you need to adapt your game to this level."
"What do you mean?"
"You play like you've got all the time in the world. At youth level, that works because the pressing isn't as intense. Here, you need to be thinking two moves ahead, not one. The pass has to be ready before you receive the ball."
[Coach Feedback: Critical for Development]
[Action Required: Increase decision-making speed]
[Physical Development: Still necessary for this level]
Walking back to his lodgings that evening, Cruyff felt a familiar frustration. In his previous life, stepping up in level had eventually become natural—a matter of adaptation rather than fundamental change. But now, trapped in a developing body with limited experience at this level, every step up felt like climbing a mountain.
[System Analysis: Development Squad Performance]
[Overall Rating: 6.5/10]
[Positives: Vision, set-piece delivery, final-ball quality]
[Areas for Improvement: Decision speed, physical presence, tactical adaptation]
[Recommendation: Regular development squad exposure needed]
The next morning brought a conversation with Williams that Cruyff had been dreading.
"How did it go last night?" the U18 coach asked as Cruyff arrived for regular training.
"Could have been better. I felt the step up."
Williams nodded knowingly. "Coleman called me. Said you showed flashes but looked overwhelmed at times."
"I need to get used to the pace. And get stronger."
"That's part of it. But there's something else." Williams gestured toward the training pitch where the U18s were warming up. "You've got comfortable being the best player at this level. Development squad is different—you might not be the best player in any given session."
The observation hit home. In recent weeks, Cruyff had grown accustomed to being the player others looked to for creativity. At development level, he was competing with players who'd been doing this for years.
"So what do you recommend?"
"Keep training with them once a week. But don't expect to dominate immediately. Your job is to learn, adapt, and gradually earn respect. It might take months, not weeks."
[Long-term Development Plan Established]
[Timeline: 3-6 months to establish consistent development squad place]
[Focus: Physical development, tactical adaptation, decision-making speed]