[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-from-arsenal-to-the-ball-god":3,"chapter-from-arsenal-to-the-ball-god-from-arsenal-to-the-ball-god-chapter-20":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","From Arsenal to the Ball God",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},925689,1216,"Chapter 20: Intra-Squad Training Match, Draw Swords!","from-arsenal-to-the-ball-god-chapter-20",20,"\u003Cp>After the signing ceremony ended, Hans and others went to the team’s photography room and put on new jerseys for the new season styling photoshoot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a moment full of laughter. Some posed with their hands on their hips, looking serious, while others raised a fist high, mimicking a fierce roar; sometimes they even had to mimic dribbling past a player or shooting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hahaha...\" Even though the photographer reminded them several times, laughter still echoed throughout the room from time to time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like the brothers who usually spend all day together were called up by a teacher to answer a question. They might feign seriousness at first, but as soon as they made eye contact, they couldn’t hold it in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all this, it was already one in the afternoon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under Jorson’s leadership, they headed to the team’s cafeteria for the first free meal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, they went home to get ready, waiting for the afternoon’s intra-team training match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>......\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three o’clock in the afternoon, Sheffield’s first-team training ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People gradually arrived in jerseys, some laughing with three or five friends, some alone, looking for camaraderie among similarly solitary individuals nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tense atmosphere began to spread at this moment; everyone knew what this training match meant for the new season.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hans and Gilbert arrived together, seeing the training hadn’t started yet, they took a soccer ball to do basic passing exercises around, warming up their feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They hadn’t waited long when a tall, slightly overweight, white-haired older man arrived at the field carrying a tactics board.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him followed several assistant coaches, one of whom was Garrispeed dressed in full attire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hans knew this must be the head coach, Mr. Kevin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Whistle!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kevin blew the whistle, signaling everyone to gather near him, then started fiddling with the tactics board in his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once everyone was close, he set down the tactics board, raised his head, and said, \"There are many new faces in the team, introduce yourselves, I am Kevin Blackwell, the head coach of the team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Perhaps you are not familiar with me yet, but we have many days together, plenty of time to get to know each other.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he said this, Hans intentionally observed Garrispeed’s expression, finding it very calm, just like when they first met recently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright, I have researched you all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kevin picked up the tactics board again, \"You all know what’s happening today, here’s the team arrangement.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He acted decisively with very little idle talk: \"Formation 3-4-3, red bib team lineup, Goalkeeper Aksalu, Defender Andy Taylor, Luton... Midfield Gilbert, Quinn...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The red team was quickly assigned. Hans didn’t hear his name, thinking he must be in the yellow team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good luck.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they parted, Gilbert smiled at him, clenching his fist: \"Don’t do any more bicycle kicks against me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hans smiled knowingly, \"Soon enough I’ll cleanly bicycle kick past you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of his improvement speed, Gilbert raised his brows and nodded, \"I believe it, but not now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yellow bib team lineup.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kevin’s voice continued, hoarse yet high-pitched, \"Goalkeeper Robert, Defender Carl Wei, Chris Morgan... Midfield Janu, Montgomery... Forward Hans, Evans, Ward!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After reading out the names, two people were left out, sitting on the bench awaiting their turn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kevin put away the tactics board, waved his hand, \"Each team organize your warm-up, start in fifteen minutes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hans donned the yellow bib and came to the half of the field where the yellow team was located, doing simple jogging, stretching, passing, and shooting with his teammates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Throughout the process, there was only communication on the field, no private conversations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Due to many unfamiliar faces, it seemed more like a trial match rather than a professional team’s pre-season training match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hans kept observing his new team’s teammates, finding them fitting his stereotype of the Championship League.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most were strong and robust, with few nimble players.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Presumably, their playing style was a relatively straightforward long pass and high ball, not needing much backfield ball control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took a deep breath, adjusting his state during warm-up, hoping he’d get a good opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Whistle whistle...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until Kevin’s two whistle signals rang, everyone ended their warm-up, jogging to their positions, waiting for the match to start.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hans got the left-wing forward position today, his best position, probably arranged by Jorson through communication with the club.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He continued adjusting his breathing, hoping to leave a good first impression on the coaching staff and teammates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Whistle...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, Kevin blew the whistle signaling the start of the match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The red team’s center forward kicked off from the center, Gibert receiving the ball in the middle, turned, and kicked it to the side midfielder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both teams’ formations quickly moved up, defenders closing in from scattered positions towards the ball-holding area, compressing space, limiting opponent passing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The attacking side tried to widen as much as possible, creating receiving space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The struggle between both sides happened at any moment, a slight negligence by either side could lead to being seized for a fatal strike!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The higher the match level, the higher the cost of mistakes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bang!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hans had just taken a few steps forward when he saw the opposing side midfielder make a long pass, sending the ball behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quickly shifting his focus towards his nearby teammate side midfielder, he soon saw the opponent intercept the ball with a header, directing it towards his position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hans burst forth, wanting to control the soccer in front of the opposing player behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rip!\" Yet he wasn’t expecting the opponent to slide tackle from behind, sending the ball out of bounds, toppling him over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the player did touch the ball during the tackle, the main referee Kevin didn’t blow the whistle, deeming such confrontation normal in the Championship League.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you alright, young man?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A clear voice reached Hans, as he looked up to see the opponent midfielder who just tackled him, reaching out a hand: \"Get up.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no other meaning in the opponent’s eyes, not feeling anything about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hans took his hand, standing up and running back to his position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is this the confrontation rhythm of Championship teams?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He swallowed a bit, his adrenaline rushing, power surging through his body, an instinctual desire for battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bang!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After his team’s throw-in, the ball soon transferred from the left to the right, then another long pass was sent towards his side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, Hans didn’t win this ball, as it flew straight out of bounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He signaled apologies to his teammates, then turned around, looking fiercely at the opposing side midfielder preparing to make the throw-in, his attitude towards the match excited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The opposing side midfielder also noticed this, choosing to throw the ball away from Hans’s position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mine!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This resulted in the yellow team’s center forward Evans suddenly charging out, intercepting the ball ahead of the red team midfield, controlling it on the wing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hans reacted quickly; seeing Evans intercept, he fully sprinted towards the mid-position Evans just left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, due to Evans’s movement, lay an open area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Here!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as he reached the spot and shouted out, he saw Evans’s accurate pass come to his feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking a glance at the goal, he knocked the ball towards the right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now’s the time!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bang!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the tension and excitement transformed into power infusing the soccer in front of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hans gritted his teeth and swung his leg wide, unleashing a vicious instep shot, sending the ball whistling towards the near corner of the goal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t...\" Red team midfielder Gilbert wanted to remind his teammates not to give Hans an unpressured shot environment, but as soon as he spoke, Hans’s shot was already off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The angle wasn’t exceptionally tricky, but the force was overwhelming, and the goalkeeper was caught off guard not yet into form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Swish!\" The ball hit the net, making a crisp, pleasant sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One to zero!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yellow team leads!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh...!\" Most yellow team players reacted quickly, spreading their arms in awe, rushing towards Hans as soon as the ball hit the net.\u003C\u002Fp>",1335,"2026-06-03T06:44:03.366Z","2026-06-03T06:44:07.060Z",1,"novelbin.me","b5a6ccd60c4aff4f4ad0243b5b913a8116f7d5c9556a76d96f120ff734323d7d","from-arsenal-to-the-ball-god-chapter-21","from-arsenal-to-the-ball-god-chapter-19",391,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Ffrom-arsenal-to-the-ball-god-cover.jpg"]