Soccer System: All the Skills, One Player!

The day after the win against Manchester City, Eddie gathered the team at the training center. There was an electric energy in the air - the UEFA Youth League was something many there had dreamed of since childhood. To be among the best youth teams in Europe was both a privilege and a pressure.

First opponents, Borussia Dortmund, were footballing giants, known for their talent pool and hard-hitting style of play.

"Congratulations on the win against City," began Eddie, in his usual firm and warm tone. "But I want to make something clear: the game against Dortmund will demand even more from us. They're fast, technical and know how to press like a few others. We have three days to prepare. I want total focus."

The coach detailed his plans for the week.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

The first day would be spent recovering and analyzing the opponent.

The second, tactical adjustments and simulations.

On the third, the trip to Germany and a final light training session at Dortmund's training center.

The days leading up to the trip were a mixture of anxiety and expectation. Lucas spent his nights mentally reviewing plays and scenarios. He also sought moments of tranquillity, reading books on sports psychology to keep calm. Lucy, in her daily text messages, tried to ease his tension.

"You're going to win, Lucas. It's just another game, like so many others you've played. Trust yourself."

He smiled as he read the messages, feeling reassured.

Denis, on the other hand, seemed to absorb the pressure differently. Always talkative and energetic, he spent much of his time on the pitch, refining his passes and free kicks.

Felix, the team captain, devoted himself to watching videos of Dortmund, trying to identify patterns and weaknesses in their opponents.

"Look at this," he said to Javier, showing a clip on his tablet. "Their left-back climbs a lot, leaving a space at the back. We can exploit that."

Raphael and Miguel had a more relaxed approach. They spent part of their time playing video games with Loki, creating a light atmosphere in the dormitory.

"If we think too much, we'll freak out before we even get on the pitch," joked Raphael.

The day before the trip, Eddie got the team together for a special dinner. It was an attempt to relieve the pressure and reinforce the group's unity. He stood up at the end, holding a glass of orange juice.

"I want you all to know that we got this far because we worked together. Regardless of the result, the most important thing is that we play as a team, like we did against City. You're a special group and I have every confidence in every one of you."

The trip to Germany started early, with the team boarding an ordinary flight. On the plane, all those ordinary people looked at the players and didn't even know who they were or why they were so close together, but the players didn't mind.

During the flight, Loki and Daniel played cards in the background, while Raphael talked to Lucas about the atmosphere in German stadiums.

"They sing the entire game, you know? It's going to be a challenge not to let it get to us," said Raphael.

"Don't worry about it, Rapha. We won't be in their stadium. It'll be at the CT, as it always is. If we play our game, they'll have to deal with the silence." replied Lucas with a confident smile.

Arriving in Dortmund, the team went straight to the hotel, where they were warmly welcomed by the tournament organizers.

Dortmund's training center was just a few minutes away, and the team had a light training session in the late afternoon. The pitch was impeccable and the surrounding structure was impressive. The autumn cold in Germany wasn't easy either.

"Remember: they're strong, but so are we. Respect your opponents, but don't be afraid. Today we'll get used to the pitch. Tomorrow, it's our stage." Eddie said.

The night before the game, Lucas could barely sleep, reliving moments from the game against City and trying to imagine what it would be like to face Dortmund. He came out of his room and found Willian in the hallway, holding a bottle of water.

"You can't sleep either?" asked Lucas.

Willian nodded. "My head won't stop. But I think it's normal. It just means we care."

Soon, the night passed, and the day of the match arrived. The team ate breakfast in silence, focused on what was to come. In the dressing room, just before they took the field, Eddie gave the last instruction, but probably no one listened very well. They were too anxious, their stomachs trembling.

The Brighton dressing room was completely silent. The players wore their shirts with the team crest, and Lucas felt the weight of responsibility more than ever.

The UEFA Youth League was much more than just another competition; it was a stage where dreams could come true or fall apart in a matter of minutes. If he played badly, all his good matches could be annulled, and he categorized as a 'small match' player.

Felix stood up. He was the emotional leader of the group and knew how to inspire his colleagues. "Come on, guys. We showed against the City that we can take on anyone. Today will be no different. They may be Dortmund, but we're Brighton."

The players stood up with claps and shouts of encouragement before heading for the tunnel. When they stepped onto the pitch, the modern structure of Dortmund's training center looked even more imposing under the lights. Although the game was being played on a smaller pitch, far from the famous Signal Iduna Park, the weight of the yellow and black emblem in the stands made Lucas' heart race.

The referee blew the whistle, and the game began. In the first few minutes, it was clear that Dortmund was pressing high into the pitch, suffocating Brighton's outlet. It was the most famous tactic among junior teams, considering that it made the game faster and favored most of the young players with a lot of breath.

Felix could barely breathe under the constant pressure of Sergio Gómez and Jacob Bruun Larsen. In midfield, Mahmoud Dahoud distributed passes.

In the seventh minute, a mistake almost cost Brighton dear. Aidan tried a quick pass to Luiz Fernando, but Bruun Larsen easily intercepted it. He advanced and shot across the goal, but the ball went just wide of the post.

"WAKE UP, BOYS!" shouted Eddie from the side of the pitch, frowning with concern.

Loki, who had shone against Manchester City, was now constantly isolated against Larsen and the Dortmund left-back.

Raphael and Miguel dropped back to help with the marking, leaving Arthur alone in the attack.

In the 12th minute, the first goal came. Dahoud found Sergio Gómez with a vertical pass that cut through the defense. The Spaniard dominated, cut inside, and fired a shot into the bottom corner. Anton stretched as far as he could, but couldn't save.

1-0 to Dortmund.

The Brighton players looked at each other, visibly shaken. Dortmund continued to dominate.

The second blow came in the 15th minute. From a corner kick, the ball was cleared by the Brighton defense and fell to Dahoud, who shot from outside the area. A blow. The ball went through the crowd and found the back of the net.

2-0.

Brighton was in disarray. Lucas shouted to reorganize the team, but Dortmund wouldn't give them any space.

On the pitch, Eddie's shouts echoed, but Lucas barely heard them. His mind was working frantically, trying to decipher how to play against the tactics that Dortmund had imposed. They were fast, disciplined, and ruthless. Brighton was being suffocated, especially in midfield, where Felix and Denis barely had room to breathe.

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Lucas began to observe the patterns. Dortmund were pressing high with three players, forcing mistakes off the ball. With the ball, Mahmoud Dahoud alternated between quick passes and long throws. Sergio Gómez, with his intelligent movement, dragged markers along, while Bruun Larsen exploited the spaces created. It was a fluid system, but not perfect. He realized something.

"They're exposing themselves," Lucas thought aloud.

Whenever Dortmund pushed forward with such intensity, the full-backs went almost to the attacking line, leaving holes in the back.

'If we can get out of the pressure, we can catch them off guard.'

The next break in play came in the 20th minute, when Raphael won a corner after a run down the left. As Denis set the ball up for the penalty, Lucas ran up to Felix.

"Felix, we need to get out of this pressure. They're suffocating us because we're trying to play short. Let's try long balls in behind the full-backs," he suggested, pointing with his eyes to the vulnerable areas of the pitch. "Miguel and Raphael can exploit those spaces. Arthur will be more centralized to pull the ball back."

Felix nodded, his face still tense. "Do you think it will work?"

"It has to. It's our best chance now."

Instead of trying to get forward with quick passes, Felix and the defenders started looking for long throws to the wingers. Miguel and Raphael seized the idea, using their speed to attack the flanks.

The tactical change had an almost immediate effect. After another fast move, Miguel received the ball on the right and crossed for Arthur. The striker, despite being marked by two defenders, headed the ball away. The ball hit the crossbar and came back to Raphael, who was arriving from behind. He calmly fired a first-time shot into the back of the net.

"GOOOOOAAAL!" shouted Anton, cheering wildly under the crossbar. "We're alive in this game! Come on team! Come on, team!"