The coach's decision to award a free kick was a welcome opportunity for Areola. He knew that set pieces were his strength, and he was determined to make the most of it. As he stepped up to take the free kick, however, the 1st team midfielder on his team intervened, saying he wanted to take it.
Areola's instincts told him to argue his case. "It's our tryouts," he said firmly. "I should take it."
The midfielder narrowed his eyes, but eventually stepped down, allowing Areola to take the free kick. Areola positioned himself behind the ball, his right foot forward. The players arranged themselves in a wall, trying to block the shot.
Areola took a deep breath, visualizing the ball flying into the net. He struck the ball with precision, using the dip and curl technique that he had mastered. The ball sailed over the wall, dipping and curving in mid-air, and into the net.
The goalkeeper stood frozen, watching as the ball flew past him. Areola's teammates erupted in cheers, impressed by the skill and precision of the shot. Areola glanced over at the coach, who was scribbling notes on his pad. He felt a surge of confidence, knowing that he had just made a strong impression.
The coach's expression was unreadable, but Areola could sense a glimmer of interest. He felt a sense of pride and satisfaction, knowing that he had just showcased his skills. As he walked back to his teammates, he caught Max's eye, and his friend gave him a thumbs-up in approval. Areola smiled, feeling like he was one step closer to achieving his dream.
The match continued, and Areola's team suffered further defeats, with the score ballooning to 6-1. Despite the scoreline, Areola knew he had made an impression with his earlier free kick goal. However, compared to Max's hat-trick, his goal seemed almost insignificant. Moreover, he had been conserving his energy by walking around the pitch, and he was certain the coach wasn't impressed.
Determined to prove himself, Areola decided to push himself to the limit, consequences be damned. As soon as the ball touched his feet, he narrowed his gaze at the goal and began to move. He expertly beat Max, who was caught off guard by his speed and agility. Areola passed the ball to his teammate and continued to run, making a diagonal run into the box.
His teammate, anticipating his movement, crossed the ball back to him, threading it through a crowded area. Areola found himself one-on-one with Brandt, the defender who had earlier taken him down with a vicious tackle. Despite the fear of another rough tackle, Areola approached the situation with confidence, his legs steady and his focus unwavering.
As Brandt attempted to take him out with a sliding tackle, Areola pushed through, raising the ball over the defender's outstretched leg. He jumped over Brandt, using his agility to avoid the tackle, and found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
With a calm and collected demeanor, Areola nutmegged the goalkeeper, rolling the ball through his legs, and slotted the ball into the empty net. The crowd erupted in cheers, and Areola's teammates congratulated him on his impressive goal. The coach watched intently, his expression a mixture of surprise and admiration. Areola had finally shown him what he was capable of, and he was left wondering if the young player had more to offer.
As the match ended 6-3 after 40 minutes, Areola couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. Despite the scoreline, he had contributed two goals and an assist, and he was sure he had made a strong impression on the coach.
The final drill of the day was announced, a first-touch and shoot drill that would test the players' ability to control the ball and finish with precision. Areola's anxiety spiked as he realized that his first touch wasn't his strong suit, especially when dealing with aerial balls. Max, on the other hand, seemed to have mastered the drill, his first touch was superb, and he consistently scored with ease.
As the drill went on, Areola struggled to get his first touch right, but he managed to score every time, despite his imperfections. Max noticed his struggles and commented on it as they walked away from the training center, late in the evening.
"I'm sure we'll get a positive review, man," Max said, grinning. "We had the best performance of everyone else out there."
Areola shrugged it off, downplaying his own performance. "You were the one who had the best performance, Max. You scored a hat-trick and had a great game."
Max chuckled and playfully rolled his eyes. "Come on, Areola, don't downplay yourself. That free kick was a banger, and your goal was insane. You dribbled past everyone and scored a great goal. And yeah, your first touch wasn't perfect in that drill, but you still managed to score every time."
Areola smiled wryly. "Yeah, but my first touch was terrible."
Max laughed. "Who cares? It's not like a real match involves someone constantly spamming balls at you. You were amazing out there, Areola. Embrace it."
As Areola settled into his temporary housing, he couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. The tryouts had been intense, and he was still processing everything that had happened. He pulled out his phone and began to watch the highlights of his favorite player, Lionel Messi. He had always been in awe of Messi's skill and creativity on the pitch, and he loved watching him take on defenders with ease.
As he watched, Areola couldn't help but think about his own dreams and aspirations. He had always been fascinated by the rivalry between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, and he hoped that one day he could be one of the greats, maybe even have a rivalry with another player that would be remembered for years to come.
For Areola, his dreams were everything. Even if they seemed impossible to achieve right now, he knew that he had to keep working towards them. He felt a surge of determination and motivation as he watched Messi's highlights, and he knew that he would do everything in his power to make his own dreams a reality.
As he continued to watch, Areola felt his eyes getting heavy, and he knew it was time to get some rest. He closed his eyes, his mind still racing with thoughts of football and his future. Tomorrow would bring new challenges and opportunities, and he was ready to face them head-on. With a sense of calm and determination, Areola drifted off to sleep, his dreams of football stardom still vivid in his mind.
As he woke up, Areola felt a dull pain in his head, likely a residual effect from the intense physical exertion of the previous day's tryouts. Despite the discomfort, he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement and anticipation. He had woken up early, his mind racing with thoughts of the tryouts and what the future might hold.
He lay in bed for a moment, his thoughts swirling around the possibilities. Would he get a call back from the coach? Would he be offered a spot on the team? The uncertainty was both thrilling and nerve-wracking, but Areola couldn't help but feel a sense of hope and optimism.
As he swung his legs over the side of the bed, Areola's excitement grew. He couldn't wait to find out what the next step would be, and he was eager to take on whatever challenges lay ahead. With a sense of determination and anticipation, he got out of bed and began to get ready for the day, his mind fixed on the possibilities that the future might hold.