Soccer System: All the Skills, One Player!

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Lucas Tanaka knew he was playing well, but he felt a growing restlessness in his chest. It wasn't just the will to win, but a need to prove something - to himself and to others.

Jimenez's words echoed in his mind, like a shadow he couldn't shake off: "Being captain hindered my performance as a player."

He looked at the pitch in front of him, studying every movement, every possibility. The match was under control, but his goal - his goal - seemed increasingly essential to calm not his team, but his heart. It wasn't just out of pride. It was a way of reaffirming that he could carry the armband and be decisive at the same time.

His mind was racing to find an answer.

'If I score, they'll see. Everyone will see. I'm not just a leader; I'm a player who can change the game.'

As the ball moved around midfield, Lucas adjusted his position. His strategic awareness kept him on his toes. He knew he had to take advantage of every loophole, every tiny opportunity that came his way.

By the 30th minute, Brighton was dominating the game. Their possession was overwhelming, and Everton looked increasingly trapped. Without possession, their forwards couldn't score, and that was the strength of this young Everton team.

Lucas called Jimenez and Felix in for a quick chat.

"Listen, we need a bit more dynamism to attack. I want you to get closer to the box when we have possession. I'll try to break the lines with a pass or, if space opens up, risk an individual move."

Jimenez nodded. "Got it, Captain. Let's find the spaces."

Lucas soon put his idea into practice. He received the ball from Felix and advanced through the center. A marker came towards him, but Lucas, with a slight change of direction and a subtle touch, passed as if the defender were just an invisible obstacle. He raised his head and saw Miguel running down the right. The pass came off his foot. Miguel received it and looked at Arthur, but Miguel's cross was intercepted.

Lucas returned to midfield, frustrated. His heart was beating faster than usual. He knew he had to be even more incisive.

Shortly afterwards, the ball arrived at Lucas' feet again. He avoided pressure from two Everton players and sped up towards the middle. This time, he wouldn't look for the pass. He wanted the responsibility, the shine of being the protagonist.

An opposing defender approached, but Lucas feinted right, pulled left, and left his marker behind. Another defender tried to block him, but Lucas raised his head and shot hard from outside the area. The ball skimmed the crossbar.

"UUUUUH!" rang out from the stands.

He clenched his fists, annoyed with himself. It was an excellent shot, but not good enough. "I can do better. I'll do better."

As the Everton goalkeeper repositioned the team, Lucas ran up to Felix. "Keep covering my position in the middle. I'm going to infiltrate the attack more."

Felix hesitated for a second, as they had the lead and there was no need to expose himself so much, but Lucas was the captain and Felix had to agree.

"Go on. I'll hold the line."

Sure, Lucas knew that his change of strategy was a risk. His role as captain and midfielder required balance, but he couldn't ignore the desire burning inside him. With every touch of the ball, with every missed opportunity, the pressure seemed to increase.

"If I don't score, I'll think to myself that Jimenez was right. That I can't lead and be decisive at the same time. I can't let that happen."

He looked for more balls in the attacking half, playing further forward than usual. His mind was divided between organizing the team and creating chances for himself. 'It's not selfish if I score. It's leadership.

In the 42nd minute, Loki regained possession on the right wing and laid the ball off to Felix. Lucas was already on the move, positioning himself between the opposing defenders. Felix noticed and made a low pass, breaking the line.

Lucas received the ball with precision and looked at the goal. Only one defender was in front of him. He feinted to the right, but quickly cut back to the left, leaving his opponent off balance. With enough space, Lucas set up the shot.

The stadium held its breath, and he shot hard while aiming for the bottom left corner.

The goalkeeper stretched as far as he could, but the ball was too fast. It kissed the back of the net.

"GOOOOOOOOALLLLLLLLL OF LUCAS!" shouted Henry from the broadcast booth. "A magnificent goal! He cleared the ball with impressive calm and finished perfectly!"

"That boy is... speechless. I'm not one for praise, but I believe great things await Lucas in his future. Yes, it's too early to say so categorically, but there are few players I've seen adapt so naturally to another country and another soccer culture."

Lucas raised his arms in a gesture of pure release. Adrenaline pulsed through his veins as his teammates ran towards him to celebrate. He felt the invisible weight he had been carrying since Jimenez's words finally dissipate.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

For a moment, he was just a boy playing soccer, but also a captain who had just proved his point.

On the bench, Eddie watched with a discreet smile. He knew Lucas had something special. That goal wasn't just about winning the game; it was a milestone in the inexperienced player's personal development.

Alex, the assistant coach, leaned over to Eddie and commented: "He handles pressure like a few others. He seems to have been born for it."

"He still has a lot to learn, but yes, Lucas is very good."

In the broadcast booth, Henry adjusted his glasses as Clara spoke enthusiastically. "Certainly. Lucas Tanaka isn't just skilled; he's intelligent. And remember: he's so young! Excuse me, Brighton, but hello to big European clubs! What are you thinking now?"

Henry nodded. "Since the start of the game, he's been Brighton's maestro. Every move goes through him. You can see how the other players trust him, even though he's so young. That's rare."

While the commentators analyzed Lucas' impact on the game, small cameras and cell phones recorded every movement of the boy who, without knowing it, was already becoming a sensation.

In the end, the match ended 5-0 to Brighton. With a goal from Arthur and one from Willian in the second half, to complete the rout.

Later that morning, Lucas was in his room, resting. The hotel where the team was staying was a good one with a great single bed, but his mind was racing, unable to switch off from the game. He picked up his cell phone, thinking he'd watch the replays or maybe answer a few messages from friends and family in Japan.

When he opened social media, he was immediately bombarded with notifications. His profile was being mentioned by several people.

Also, "Lucas Tanaka" was in the top 100 trends on Twitter in the UK, and he could hardly believe the amount of messages he was receiving. There were clips of his goal, comments from fans, memes, and also technical analysis.

@BrightonFanatic posted: "Tanaka is the future! What a game, what leadership! Are we seeing a great promise born? #LucasTanaka"

A famous sports commentator, known for his harsh criticism of many youth teams, tweeted: "Lucas Tanaka is a rare talent. A complete player with a mature head for his age. If he keeps this up, he'll soon be in one of the European giants."

Lucas laughed softly, shaking his head. "European giants? I've only just started," he muttered to himself.

But the impact of his performance was not limited to the UK. Japanese websites were also commenting on him. Sports websites in Japan were highlighting the young prodigy who had left his homeland to pursue his European dream and was making a name for himself at an English club.

Videos of his goal racked up thousands of views just a few hours after the game. Japanese fans filled the comments sections with words of encouragement and pride.

"Tanaka-san represents us with honor. Japanese soccer needs more young players like him!" wrote one user.

Another message read: "So proud to see one of us shining in England! Go Tanaka-chan!"

The words of support warmed Lucas' heart. He sent a message to his parents, who were in Japan, sharing the moment.

"Did you see the game?" he asked.

"Yes, we did," replied his mother, Ayumi, almost immediately. "We're so proud of you, Lucas. Your father even cried when you scored."

Lucas smiled. His parents had always supported him, even when he left for a continent so far away.

"Thanks for everything, guys."

The next day, journalists were waiting for the Brighton players on their way back to the training center. When Lucas arrived, accompanied by Raphael and Miguel, reporters immediately surrounded him.

"Lucas, what was going through your mind when you scored?" asked one journalist.

"Do you feel you're ready to take on an even bigger role at Brighton?" asked another.

Lucas felt a little nervous in front of the cameras, and suddenly a voice said:

"Leave the boy alone, barflies."

Lucas looked back and saw Eddie walking down the steps of the bus, and when he got off, the bus itself seemed relieved not to have to bear all his weight.

"Now, we just want a few words from this promising young man." said one journalist.

"What you want is some nervous response from the boy to make headlines. Now go! Get out of here!"

A little begrudgingly, the reporters left the bus.