"The host collects results from ordinary bubbles: defensive pressing training +10 hours, today's collection progress is 2/10."
"The host collects from an ordinary bubble: physical training +10 hours, today's collection progress is 3/10."
"The host collects results from ordinary bubbles: tight-fitting training + 10 hours, today's collection progress is 4/10."
"Reminder: The host has gathered 100 hours of special training results and has earned a corresponding talent point."
"The host collects from a normal bubble: defensive interception training + 10 hours, today's collection progress is 5/10."
Collected a new talent point!
The bubbles collected in this wave are extremely useful!
Julian didn't hesitate and immediately allocated the exchanged talent points to his physical talent.
"Congratulations to the host for successfully adding points. The host's physical attributes have increased from 55 points to 56 points."
Julian suddenly felt his breathing ease up, and the physical energy he had used for warming up earlier had also significantly recovered.
While the improvement in his physical attribute was substantial, it had not yet reached the desired standard.
Don't worry, take it one step at a time...
A career doesn't reach its peak in a single day.
Julian, with his 12 years of world-leading experience, was very patient about this.
Suddenly, Coach Carter entered the training ground with a stern expression.
The players, who had been chatting among themselves, quickly fell into line.
As Julian observed, the unclaimed white bubbles began to dissolve in the air, disappearing after about three minutes.
It appears that bubbles not collected within three minutes will vanish.
Coach Carter stood before the players, scanning them with his piercing gaze like a falcon.
Once he was confident that he had their attention, he spoke:
"Tomorrow is the start of the group stage in the national competition."
"Everyone knows that there are 32 teams participating, divided into 8 groups with 4 teams each, using a single round-robin system within the groups."
"What is a single round-robin system? It means each team faces every other team in their group only once, playing a total of three games. Only the top two with the highest points from each group can advance to the national knockout stage."
"To be frank, the pressure is intense and the competition is fierce."
"The best record in our Bucks Steel Horns team's history was reaching the top eight nationally."
Coach Carter paused and said proudly, "It's an honor. I was the captain of the Bucks Steel Horns that year."
The players on the scene remained silent.
Apparently, they had heard this old story more than a hundred times, and their interest had waned.
But Julian listened with enthusiasm—he never expected that this coach, known for his trash-talking, would have made it to the quarter-finals of a national high school competition when he was younger!
Coach Carter continued, "Do you know what it means to be in the quarter-finals? That means you can apply to the sports departments of all the prestigious universities in the UK! If you can make it to the semi-finals, congratulations, the admissions officers from those universities will contact you! If you win the championship, the scouts of professional clubs will call you non-stop!"
"You will become soccer stars, the media will chase after you, and you'll make a fortune! You'll be the heroes in the eyes of the fans!"
Coach Carter took a deep breath and asked in a solemn tone, "So, tell me, are you all ready to start your career as stars?"
The players who were speaking grew excited.
In unison, they shouted, "Ready!"
Carter sneered and spoke sarcastically, "Shit! It's all bullshit! Is it that easy to be a soccer star? To make it to the top eight in the country? No wonder you think you're ready—you fools! Your tactical system is still a mess!"
The passionate emotions of the players were instantly dampened by Carter's harsh words.
Julian secretly admired in his heart: This coach is really down-to-earth... It's just that his words are too harsh.
But there's no need to be nice when you're a coach.
Carter's sharp gaze swept over the team once more. "You guys are the worst team I've ever coached," he said in a deep voice. "Therefore, I have no expectations for you. I don't expect you to make it to the top 8 and get into a good school, and I don't expect you to win the championship and go pro."
"I just hope you can take this group stage seriously and make a good ending to your high school careers, even if it's not perfect, but at least it's a complete story."
"You're not playing for me."
"This is your own youth."
"Don't let yourselves regret it!"
The players tightened their fists, and some with sunken eyes were almost brought to tears by his words.
After a moment of contemplation, the seasoned coach, PUA, finally made his point:
"Now, begin the team training match. This match will determine the 18-man squad."
"Drummer," he beckoned to the team's assistant, "follow the previous grouping list. You'll be the temporary referee. Find two more players to be line judges and start when you're ready."
"Yes, Coach!"
Drummer, being the team's assistant, was naturally familiar with this routine.
Players assigned red vests were the main team members, while those with green vests were substitutes and reserves.
Julian wasn't given a vest.
Since Julian was new and not part of the school's formal training system, he wasn't included in the lineup.
Michael, wearing a red vest, approached Julian with a smug grin. "Hey, Asian kid, why don't you have a vest? Oh, so you don't even qualify to play in the team's training match! Hahaha!"
Julian didn't let it get to him and responded calmly, "I wish you victory."
For Julian, this was a perfect opportunity to work on his physical conditioning and defensive skills.
Rusty Stripe walked over and said in a rough voice, "Hey, Michael, don't be like that. He's new here."
After speaking, Rusty Stripe gave Julian a friendly smile.
Michael frowned, "Rusty Stripe, are you seriously taking this Asian kid's side? Don't you want the little pink note Julian gave me?"
Rusty Stripe blushed. "No way! No! I didn't... I wasn't!"
shit...
Julian couldn't help but think, Your acting skills are worse than trash...
Drummer, acting as a temporary referee, blew the whistle, and the training match began!
The team training match had officially started!
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-