The Next Big Thing
Chapter 105: Coach’s thoughts

Chapter 105: Coach’s thoughts

David, who heard everything that was said, focused more intently on the match, his eyes glued to the field.

He watched as Wan-Bissaka timed his movements perfectly, lunging into a tackle with pinpoint accuracy to dispossess a Manchester City player. The ball barely had time to settle at his feet before he released it, threading a precise pass down the wing to Bruno Fernandes. The midfielder carried it forward, igniting a Manchester United counterattack. Fernandes played a perfectly weighted through ball to Marcus Rashford, who sprinted past his marker. Rashford reached the edge of the box and struck a low shot, but it skidded just wide of the far post. The only sounds were the players’ shouts and the echo of the ball ricocheting off the advertising boards.

David’s attention didn’t waver as Manchester City regrouped, orchestrating their next attack. Kevin De Bruyne picked up the ball near the center circle, turning past a United midfielder with effortless skill. His eyes scanned the field, ever calculating, until he spotted Sergio Agüero making a sharp run between United’s center-backs.

With a stroke of brilliance, De Bruyne sliced the United defense open, threading a perfectly measured pass into Agüero’s path. The Argentine striker, always a picture of calm under pressure, controlled the ball with one touch and fired a shot toward the bottom corner.

But David de Gea was equal to the challenge. Reacting instinctively, he flung himself low to his right, his fingertips pushing the ball just past the post. The sharp sound of the save filled the air, followed by the frustrated groans of City’s players and the applause from United’s bench.

David’s eyes stayed fixed on the field, his mind processing every detail. Wan-Bissaka’s impeccable timing. Bruno’s creativity. Rashford’s missed chance. De Bruyne’s vision. Agüero’s precision. De Gea’s brilliance. The game wasn’t just about flair or goals—it was a series of interconnected moments that shaped the outcome.

Straightening in his seat, David felt a growing sense of resolve. He still firmly believed that the person who scores or provides the assist is the star at the end of the day, but he wasn’t so stubborn as to ignore the truth in Ole’s words. He needed to be far more technical in how he thought about the game. Up until now, he’d played almost entirely on instinct, making decisions in the moment, doing what felt right at that natural time. But Ole was right—there was more to it than just instinct.

A voice beside him broke his train of thought, a voice that belonged to his coach, Ole.

"Look at Kevin De Bruyne," Ole said calmly.

David instinctively turned his head to the side, but Ole’s voice came firm and quick.

"No, don’t turn. Focus. Look at him," Ole instructed.

David snapped his head back to the field, his eyes darting to the middle of the pitch. He quickly spotted Kevin De Bruyne, surrounded by Fred and Matic. At first glance, it didn’t seem like much—De Bruyne was just wandering through the midfield as Manchester United controlled possession, attempting to initiate an attack.

"See the way he scans the field," Ole said softly, his tone instructive but calm.

David focused on De Bruyne and noticed it immediately. Kevin wasn’t just standing there aimlessly—his head was constantly moving, his eyes darting left and right, up and down, scanning every corner of the pitch. Even without the ball, he was working, observing, planning.

As the ball shifted forward with United’s attack, Ole’s voice continued, steady and insightful.

"Watch him," he urged, and David did.

The attack broke down as City’s defense intercepted a pass, and the ball fell to İlkay Gündoğan. With minimal hesitation, Gündoğan pivoted and sent a pass to De Bruyne, who had positioned himself perfectly between the lines.

The Belgian didn’t stop to admire the ball. With one quick touch, he unleashed a perfectly placed long pass to the far left, where Raheem Sterling had already begun sprinting into space. Sterling latched onto the ball, cutting it back as Wan-Bissaka rushed to close him down. Recognizing the pressure, Sterling returned the ball to De Bruyne, who had followed the play and positioned himself in support.

De Bruyne wasted no time. With a sharp, direct pass, he split the United defense, finding Sergio Agüero making a darting run into the box. The Argentine striker controlled the ball under pressure, but Harry Maguire stayed close, blocking any clear path to goal. Agüero hesitated, scanning for options, before quickly laying the ball back to De Bruyne, who had continued his run.

Now surrounded by defenders, De Bruyne’s head moved rapidly, searching for the slightest opening. But before he could execute his next move, Wan-Bissaka swooped in with a perfectly timed tackle, dispossessing him cleanly.

Wan-Bissaka didn’t waste the moment. He immediately passed the ball forward to Paul Pogba, who turned sharply and launched a counterattack for United.

David’s gaze lingered on De Bruyne even after the play had moved on. The way the midfielder had orchestrated the sequence—his movement, his awareness, his decision-making—it was all so calculated, so deliberate. De Bruyne was thinking steps ahead, while David had always been playing in the moment.

Ole’s voice broke through his thoughts once more.

"Do you see it now?" he asked.

David nodded slowly, but he couldn’t resist opening his mouth to talk. "But coach, I also look around the pitch when I play," he said, his voice carrying a hint of defensiveness.

Ole smiled knowingly, his face radiating patience and understanding. "I know, David. I’ve watched all your videos intensely," he began, leaning slightly toward the young player. "But tell me this—when you look around, who do you look at?"

Without hesitation, David replied, "The opponents."

Ole’s smile grew wider, as if he’d been expecting that exact response. "Exactly," he said, his tone tinged with both pride and an eagerness to teach. "When you look around the pitch, you’re focused on knowing where your opponents are—how to dribble past them, how to make a run. And that’s a great skill to have, David. But..." he paused, letting the moment sink in before continuing, "that’s the difference. When Kevin De Bruyne looks around, he doesn’t just look at the opponents. He focuses more on his teammates—where they are, where they will be, what they can do, and the exact positions they prefer the ball to be delivered in. He’s not thinking just about himself; he’s already thinking five steps ahead for the team."

David’s eyes widened slightly as he nodded, taking in Ole’s words.

Ole leaned back, clearly pleased with the progress of their conversation. "David, when you can think about the game like Kevin does—when you start seeing the game in that way—and you combine it with your monstrous instincts and God-given talent? Trust me, that’s when you’ll reach the heights you’re truly meant for."

David nodded again, but Ole could sense the flicker of doubt or resistance. The coach pressed on with a smile, "I know, I know. You might feel like I’m bothering you right now. You’re already scoring, making assists, and doing great. You might think you’re doing fine as it is. But trust me, when you can blend that technical awareness with your instincts, it’s a whole different ballgame. Look at De Bruyne just now. He lost the ball because of Wan-Bissaka’s brilliant tackle. But if it were you in that same situation, what would you have done?"

David didn’t even hesitate. "I would’ve chipped the ball when I saw him sliding in, then run past him. Maguire takes long strides, so I’d probably nutmeg him and place the ball in the top bin where De Gea can’t reach." His answer was instinctive, almost automatic, and it was clear he had been replaying the moment in his mind.

Ole’s grin widened, and he clapped his hands softly. "Yes, yes, that’s it! When you can master the balance—knowing when to be technical and when to unleash your instincts—oh man..." Ole trailed off, his smile growing as his mind raced with possibilities.

David just nodded again, his eyes now glued to the pitch. Ole didn’t say anything for a moment, instead watching the young player and feeling a swell of pride and excitement.

Ole couldn’t help but think how perfect it was that they were playing Manchester City today. Guardiola’s team was the epitome of technical brilliance, and watching them firsthand—especially De Bruyne—would benefit David’s game more than anything.

As the match continued, Ole allowed his mind to wander for a moment, envisioning the future. Next season, he thought, Cavani in the middle, with Rashford and David tearing down the wings and Bruno just behind them. The speed, the creativity, the instincts—it was all coming together in his mind. He didn’t even factor Martial into his plans, despite him being the current top scorer.

If he could make David more technical, give him a deeper understanding of the game alongside his natural flair and athleticism, and have someone like Bruno or Pogba feeding him those perfect balls up front... Ole smiled to himself.

The whole league wouldn’t be ready.

He glanced at David, who was still intently watching the match, his expression focused and determined.

Ole smiled again, his heart racing with excitement. He had a monster—a wildcard just waiting to be unleashed. And he couldn’t wait to let the world see it.

While Ole was looking at David, two others were looking at him—Juan Mata and Mason Greenwood—both staring at the duo with completely different thoughts running through their minds.

Mata was thinking, "For the gaffer to give him this much attention, that kid must be something else. Hmm," he thought, curiosity etched on his face as he observed Ole’s focused demeanor.

On the other hand, Greenwood was fuming. "What’s so special about him?" he thought, frustration bubbling inside him as he watched Ole shower the younger player with attention that he felt should’ve been his.The bitterness was subtle but real, brewing under the surface as Mason felt overlooked.

The match played on, with both teams missing chance after chance, but in the end, Manchester United came out victorious with a 2-0 win.

At the final whistle, Ole stood on the sidelines, shaking hands with Pep Guardiola. "Good game out there," he said warmly.

Pep, always animated, responded, "Oh, Solskjaer, good game, good game! But watch out—next season, we’ll come for you with everything we have. More than you believe!" he said, gesturing dramatically.

Ole, noticing a young boy hobbling into the tunnel on crutches, felt his smile deepen. Turning back to Pep, he replied with a knowing grin, "Oh, you’re right. More than you can believe."

Author’s Gratitude

A massive special shoutout to Adir_Azran, who handed me yet another golden ticket! 🎉🕺 I can’t thank you enough for your unwavering support—this Chapter, and the next one, are dedicated entirely to you. Your encouragement means the world to me, and I’m so grateful. Thank you so, so much! ❤️

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