Dynasty Awakening: Building My Own Football Empire-Chapter 255: Awakening

"Because it’s fun." He answered. Yet the moment he said this aloud, a wave of understanding finally overcame him.

"That’s right. We play the game of football because it is fun and we enjoy the chaos. Those players from Tottenham, you can see it in their faces... They’re not having fun at all."

Michael’s expression sank. What was football if it wasn’t fun?

"So what do we do? I can’t stand seeing talented players miserable like this."

Sergio Ramos stifled a laugh. The situation itself wasn’t funny, but seeing a rookie manager referring to seasoned internationals as miserable in such a tone felt a little too ironic to be ignored.

"I can’t do anything about it, but maybe you can." He said, a mysterious smile forming at the corner of his lips behind his sunglasses.

"Huh? Me?" Michael was surprised. Originally he had thought that just beating this team may have an effect on them, however judging by their expressions, they may not even care if they lose.

"You can think about that later. For now, Kaito just scored and we need to restart." Sergio gave him a nudge on the shoulder, pointing at Kaito Tanaka who was still celebrating by doing the robot dance near the corner flag.

"Ah!" He quickly jumped up and grabbed his water bottle, Michael had been too preoccupied with the philosophy of the game that he had a complete brain fart.

"Sorry for making you wait." Michael bowed a few times to the fourth official and the Tottenham bench, however he didn’t receive a response.

He squared up and was prepared to manage. Like in the first twenty minutes, he was aiming to exploit the high line.

However, to his surprise, the Tottenham defenders stood up from their line and took a few steps backward.

"Huh!?" Michael was flabbergasted. Were they really going to adapt? But why?

"Pass."

"Pass."

"Pass."

"Safe possession! Boring."

Michael didn’t know what was going on in this situation. This had not happened in his previous analysis, although the circumstances were a little different. They had not managed to score a single goal whereas now they had 1 goal on the board.

He could only drop his water bottle down and walk over to the edge of his technical area with a confused expression.

It wasn’t until Son Heung-min received the ball that he finally understood what was going on.

"Back pass! Safe."

Michael’s gaze instantly turned to the Tottenham manager who was wearing his usual calm smile. He couldn’t help but clench his fists in anger, this wasn’t football, this was a spreadsheet.

Where were the rivalries? The drive to challenge your opponent and win with all of your might, no matter what risks you took.

Sure, this style of play may work in a simulation, but they were not simulations. They were human beings.

The way this manager operated broke the players down into mere cogs within a system, erasing everything that made them unique.

"What a shame." Michael said loudly as the ball rolled out for a throw-in near his dugout, grabbing the attention of the few Tottenham players around him. The left-back Udogie turned around with an apathetic gaze and was about to turn back to defend.

"Your manager must not have any faith in your attacking abilities if he’s telling you to pass backwards every time." His words were probing, attempting to get a reaction out of the defender.

The defender’s expression twisted for a moment showing a flash of anger before it returned to normal. Michael could instantly tell that he was not passing backwards of his own volition.

"That’s why I said that it’s a shame. I was looking forward to facing your dribbling head on after the first goal." He shrugged his shoulders, looking disappointed.

Frustration appeared on the defender’s face but he held it in and turned to face Romero who had already made his way to cover the space. Michael was pleased by this reaction, it meant that at least one of the players were not satisfied with the Manager and his orders.

However, the defender still did as he was instructed by passing backwards to the goalkeeper. Michael wasn’t too surprised by this, but he finally felt as if he had found a way to perhaps help these robots enjoy football once more.

Next up to press was Amara who came out to close down Vicario the goalkeeper. While this may seem like Tottenham were at risk, with their drilled passing lanes and play style, it would be difficult to convert the press into goals.

Michael grabbed the tip of his tie, signaling for Amara to perform a "Chaos Trigger". A Chaos Trigger was a fake press that would allow the striker Victor Osimhen enough time to cut the passing lane, as long as it was executed well.

Michael saw the signal and watched from the sideline, stalking the play and waiting for the mistake.

The goalkeeper threw the ball right down the middle, prompting Bissouma to hold out his foot and control it towards the sideline. However, he used too much caution and practically fed it right into Mateo Vega’s path.

He stepped onto the ball and passed to Son, completing the escape. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"Safe play, reset!"

Michael slowed down his pacing before heading back to the bench, but not before letting out an audible sigh and speaking his mind.

"Man, what a boring game. It feels like I’m playing against robots with no personality or competitiveness."

His loud words drew the attention of the Tottenham players who were near the touchline. A few looked over with downcast expressions, while James Maddison looked furious. He stormed over to the touchline near Michael while waiting for a throw-in.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

The midfielder was talented and creative, usually the spark of the team, yet he looked angry and constrained.

Michael raised his hands, not showing any signs of aggression in return.

"Hey man, I was just saying that a game like this isn’t fun at all."

"Hah, fun? What’s the point in having fun if you can’t control the game? As long as we keep possession then nothing else matters..." The midfielder scoffed, dismissing Michael’s words.

"Those don’t sound like your true feelings." Michael replied.

Maddison’s face flickered for a moment before his anger rose once again. "Shut up, we’ll beat you by controlling the tempo. Even if it’s not fun."

After those words, he began to walk away back to the pitch before the throw-in was taken.

Michael stared at his back for a moment before replying. "Then why did you start playing football? Was it only to pass sideways?"

These words made the midfielder pause for a moment, yet he continued walking back, ignoring the question.