The walk out of the tunnel at Portman Road was a completely different experience.
The roar wasn't for them; it was a deep, intimidating hum from a seasoned home crowd that expected victory. The blue and white of Apex United was a small island in a sea of Ipswich Town's historic blue.
"Alright, lads, block it out," Grant Hanley's voice rumbled as they stepped onto the immaculate turf. "It's just noise. Focus on us, no one else."
Jonathan Rowe, the young winger, bounced on the balls of his feet, a nervous energy about him. "Feels different, doesn't it? Proper old-school ground."
"Just means the pitch is the same size," Kenny McLean said with the calm of a veteran.
"Don't let the stands play the game for you. Viktor, you alright, son?"
All eyes turned for a second to the new 16-year-old striker. Viktor Kristensen looked pale, his eyes wide as he took in the sheer scale of it all. This was a long way from a Danish youth academy.
"It's... loud," he managed to say.
Emre Demir, who had been just as nervous a few days ago, gave him a slight nod. "You'll be fine," he said quietly, but with an air of authority that surprised some of the older players. "Just run. I'll find you."
That simple promise seemed to steady Viktor. He took a deep breath and focused on the pitch.
Ethan stood in his technical area, looking sharp in his suit, a stark contrast to the home manager's club tracksuit. He felt the weight of the home crowd's gaze but ignored it, his focus entirely on his players and the secret insight burning in his mind.
"A warm welcome to Portman Road for this fascinating pre-season friendly!" the commentator's voice echoed around the ground.
"Ipswich Town, in their iconic blue and white, are looking to continue their strong pre-season form against the brand new, mystery-shrouded Apex United, today in their striking all-black away kit. All eyes will be on Apex's two teenage forwards, the goal-scoring hero from their last match, Emre Demir, and the debutant, 16-year-old Viktor Kristensen."
The whistle blew, and the match began.
From the first second, it was clear this was a different level of opposition. Ipswich were sharp, their passing was crisp, and they pressed with an organized intensity that immediately put Apex on the back foot. The first ten minutes were a struggle.
Hanley and Gibson were forced into desperate clearances, and Kenny McLean was a whirlwind in midfield, breaking up play.
"Stay tight! Don't get pulled apart!" Hanley bellowed, trying to keep his defensive line in order.
Ethan stood calmly on the sideline, watching, analyzing. He wasn't panicking. He was waiting for his moment.
He saw Jonathan Rowe on the right wing looking hesitant, pinned back by the aggressive Ipswich left-back, just as his 'Managerial Instinct' had predicted.
In the 12th minute, Ethan saw his opening. He cupped his hands around his mouth. "Jonny! Be brave! Take him on! Every single time!"
Rowe heard him. The next time the ball came to him, instead of playing a safe pass backward, he took a sharp touch and drove directly at his opponent. The left-back, surprised by the sudden aggression, stuck out a clumsy leg and tripped him.
The referee blew for a free-kick. It was a small victory, but it was a start.
On the pitch, the new strike partnership was having a difficult time. Viktor Kristensen was a ghost. He made intelligent runs, darting into channels, but his teammates, still unused to his movement, weren't finding him. He looked frustrated.
"Vik! Hold your run a half-second!" Sargent had yelled in training; now it was Emre trying to sync up. "Show for it! I need a target!" Emre called out, dropping deep to try and get on the ball.
In the 21st minute, they finally connected. Emre weaved past one player and saw Viktor make a sharp, diagonal run across the backline. Emre slid a perfectly timed pass into the space. For the first time, Viktor was free. He was through on goal.
The Apex bench rose to its feet.
But as the keeper rushed out, Viktor hesitated. The pressure of the moment, the roar of the hostile crowd—it was too much. Instead of shooting, he tried to cut back, his touch was heavy, and a recovering defender slid in to clear the danger.
Viktor put his head in his hands, a picture of pure frustration.
"Unlucky, Vik! Keep making the runs!" Emre shouted encouragingly, clapping his hands.
Ethan made a mental note. Low Big Match Importance. It was real. But he didn't shout at the kid. He just watched.
The game continued to be a tense, tactical battle. In the 30th minute, Ethan's moment arrived. Jonathan Rowe received the ball on the right wing again. Emboldened by his manager's call, he didn't hesitate.
He dipped his shoulder, knocked the ball past the aggressive left-back, and burst past him with a blistering turn of speed.
The defender, caught off guard and desperate, lunged in from behind, catching Rowe's ankle.
The whistle blew immediately. The referee ran over, reaching into his pocket. It was a clear yellow card. The left-back was now on a tightrope.
Ethan turned to James Pearce with a grim smile. "There it is."
Now, the plan could truly begin. "Jonny!" Ethan yelled again. "Keep going at him! He can't touch you now!"
The game changed. Every time Apex got the ball, they looked for Rowe.
He was now playing with a swagger, a confidence that came from knowing he had his opponent's number. He beat the left-back again in the 34th minute and whipped in a dangerous cross that Barnes, if he were on the pitch, would have loved.
Sargent got a head to it but couldn't direct it on target.
Then, in the 40th minute, came the breakthrough.
The ball was worked out to Rowe on the right flank once more. The Ipswich left-back, terrified of being beaten again and picking up a second yellow, stood off him, giving him a crucial yard of space. Rowe didn't need a second invitation.
He took a touch and delivered a perfect, early cross, bending it low and hard into the area between the goalkeeper and the defense.
It was a nightmare ball to defend. And Viktor Kristensen, who had been making selfless, decoy runs all game, finally made the right one. He attacked the near post, drawing the attention of the center-back.
But the cross wasn't aimed at him.
It was aimed at the space he created.
Arriving late, ghosting in unmarked at the back post, was Emre Demir. He met the cross with a simple, cushioned side-foot volley from six yards out. The net bulged.
0-1.
The home crowd was stunned into silence, broken only by the delirious shouts from the Apex bench and the small pocket of traveling fans. Emre wheeled away, pointing directly at Jonathan Rowe, acknowledging the brilliant wing play.
Rowe sprinted over, and the whole team joined them in a celebration right in front of the fuming Ipswich left-back.
Ethan pumped his fist, a surge of pure tactical satisfaction washing over him. It wasn't a moment of individual magic this time. It was a goal born from a plan. From an insight. From his own mind.
As the Ipswich players trudged back to the center circle to restart the game, a new notification flashed in Ethan's vision, this one a shimmering, silver color.
[Managerial Instinct 'Insight' Used Successfully]
[Player Relationship Updated: Jonathan Rowe's 'Trust in Manager's Tactics' has significantly increased.]
[Player Relationship Updated: Viktor Kristensen's 'Team Cohesion' has increased.]
He looked at his players, a real team, celebrating a goal they had earned through a shared strategy.