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Prep Time
🕑 Added 2024-12-12 23:46:27 +0000 UTCMay 13th had arrived, and with it, the Championship League season had come to a close. Most players from the lower-tier teams had already packed their bags, heading off for a well-deserved holiday. However, the Championship play-offs were still in full swing, and the excitement was palpable.
After two thrilling rounds, Derby County emerged victorious over Brighton, while Queens Park Rangers triumphed over Wigan Athletic. The two would now face off in a showdown at the end of the month, with the winner securing the coveted final spot in the Premier League for the next season.
Meanwhile, Leicester City, who had made it all the way to the FA Cup final, was still very much in the spotlight. The Foxes, despite having their Championship status locked in for next season, had no time to relax. The final against Arsenal was looming large.
"Remember, when you strike the ball, make sure your supporting foot is about 20 centimeters to the left of it," the coach instructed as the team gathered for their routine training session. "If you want to add more spin, roll your ankle upwards at the moment of impact."
Tristan, who had been diligently listening to the tips, couldn't help but notice that a few new faces had appeared by the sidelines. A cameraman adjusted his lens, and the crew members were clearly preparing for something. His curiosity piqued, Tristan glanced over at Vardy, who was still practicing his finishing. Vardy gave a shrug, clearly unfazed.
Before Tristan could dwell further on the unusual presence, his coach's voice rang out across the pitch. "Tristan! Come over here!"
Puzzled, he jogged toward the sidelines. As he approached, the coach quickly briefed him. "They're from 'Match of the Day'. They're here to film a segment for the FA Cup final preview, and they want to do a quick interview with you."
Tristan raised an eyebrow. He wasn't used to being the center of attention like this, but with his debut, it had become part of the job. He was Leicester's most talked-about player at the moment, and the media loved to make the most of that.
Soon, Tristan found himself sitting on a folding chair in front of the cameras, wearing his Leicester jacket, the badge shining under the lights. The interviewer smiled warmly as she adjusted her microphone.
"Tristan, it's your first time in an FA Cup final, and it's also the first time in many years that Leicester City has reached this stage. How do you feel about it?"
Tristan smiled, his excitement palpable. "I'm thrilled. This is the first final of my career, and I'm doing everything I can to help the team secure the win."
The interviewer nodded, her eyes gleaming as she asked the next question. "And the final opponent is Arsenal, a team you almost joined during the winter transfer window. Arsène Wenger even mentioned in a press conference that he personally called you about moving to Arsenal. Why did you turn down the offer?"
The question made Tristan pause for a moment. He had to be careful with his words—he didn't want to stir any unnecessary controversy. "It was a huge honor to be recognized by Mr. Wenger, and Arsenal is a fantastic club," he began. "But Leicester is where my heart is. I've been a part of this team for as long as I can remember. My family is here, and I owe everything to this club. So, I chose to stay."
The interviewer smiled and moved to the final question. "And finally, do you have any message for the fans ahead of the final?"
Tristan's face softened as he spoke, a mixture of determination and gratitude in his voice. "I'm really looking forward to playing against Arsenal. It's going to be a tough game, but we've come this far, and I believe in this team. We're going to give it our all to win that trophy for the fans."
Mid-May had ushered in the end of the major European leagues, and the drama unfolding in the Premier League was the talk of every pub and sports bar. The title race had taken an unexpected turn when Liverpool suffered a humiliating draw at Anfield against Crystal Palace, effectively handing Manchester City the initiative.
After a fierce battle for supremacy, Manchester City claimed the 2013-2014 Premier League title, overtaking Liverpool in the final rounds. Arsenal, who had been top of the league halfway through the season, ended up in fourth place, a familiar but frustrating finish for their fans.
While the Gunners had failed to clinch the title, their hopes for silverware remained alive in the FA Cup. Arsenal had not won a major trophy since their 2005 FA Cup victory, and the drought had led to many departures of star players over the years, including iconic figures like Thierry Henry, Cesc Fàbregas, and Robin van Persie.
But now, with Wenger still at the helm, Arsenal had reached another FA Cup final. This would be their chance to end the nine-year trophyless period that had become a painful symbol of underachievement.
May 16th—one day before the much-anticipated FA Cup final—saw the BBC's "Match of the Day" air a special preview program, featuring highlights from the tournament's journey so far. The segment began with an edited montage of thrilling moments, interspersed with clips from the two finalists' most recent matches.
The show's hosts, Gareth Lineker and Martin Keown, analyzed the road to the final, dissecting the key moments and plays that had led Leicester and Arsenal to this crucial stage. They then discussed the predicted starting line-ups for both teams.
"Martin," Lineker asked with a knowing smile, "who do you think will be the key player for Arsenal in this final?"
Keown thought for a moment before answering confidently, "I'd say Cazorla. He's the mastermind of their midfield, the one who orchestrates their attack. If he's in form, Arsenal will be dangerous."
Lineker nodded before posing the same question about Leicester. "And who do you think will be key for Leicester?"
Without hesitation, Lineker responded, his voice full of admiration. "Tristan. No doubt. I've been saying it for months now—this kid is something special. His vision, his ability to control the pace of the game, it's world-class in the making."
Meanwhile, on the Leicester team bus heading to their hotel for the final, Mahrez was scrolling through his phone, watching the segment. He elbowed Tristan, who had been resting with his eyes closed.
"Hey, Tristan," Mahrez said with a teasing grin, "Lineker's singing your praises again."
Tristan, clearly aware of the attention, opened one eye and glanced at Mahrez's phone. He smirked and closed his eyes again, feigning nonchalance. "Yeah, it's well known that I'm this good. He's been praising me for weeks."
Mahrez rolled his eyes, chuckling. "You never miss a chance to let everyone know, huh?"
Tristan shrugged, a playful smile creeping onto his face. "If I didn't, who would?"
The atmosphere on the bus lightened, and the players shared a few laughs, the excitement of the final growing stronger with each passing moment.
In preparation for tomorrow's FA Cup final, Leicester City's coaches and players arrived at the Novotel Wembley Hotel in London. This famous four-star hotel, located only five minutes away from Wembley Stadium, is the hotel of choice for many foreign tourists to watch football matches. The FA Cup final held at Wembley Stadium also attracted many neutral fans from other countries. All the hotels nearby were almost fully booked. Fortunately, the club had contacted the hotel in advance and reserved a floor specifically for Leicester City.
Mahrez became Tristan's roommate for the night, and after getting the room key, the two of them pulled their suitcases and went to their shared room. The room was a standard double-bed room, with soft beds, a large TV, and an inviting ambiance. After settling in, Mahrez immediately kicked off his shoes and lay down on one of the beds, grabbing the remote and flipping on the TV.
While Mahrez was absorbed in the latest episode of Coronation Street, Tristan lay back on his bed, his blue Beats headphones securely in place, listening to music. At the same time, he summoned the [Character Panel] on his phone, studying his stats.
[Player Name: Tristan Hale]
Age: 18
Height: 187 cm
Weight: 69 kg
Preferred Foot: Right
Club: Leicester City
Talent: Kevin De Bruyne's Vision and Passing
Attributes: Ball Control: C
Shooting: C
Passing: S
Defense: D
Physical: C
Mental: B
Overall Rating: 79
Tristan had made significant progress over the course of half a season in the Championship. He'd gained 4 kg, though he hadn't grown any taller, which was a bit strange for him. In his previous life, he would have been standing at 6'3" by now. However, he appreciated the fact that he had stopped growing—6'1" was the perfect height for a footballer.
His body had become leaner and more muscular, his skin noticeably tanned. Most importantly, his stats had improved across the board.
His overall rating had jumped from 73 to 79, and his Burst attribute had seen the most dramatic improvement, climbing from 70 to 89. This was the result of Tristan investing all his free attribute points into his speed and agility.
At this stage, with a rating of 79, Tristan was at the level of a starter in a top-five league team. He could easily fit into a mid-table Premier League side as a regular starter or even as a substitute for one of the top six teams. However, his attributes were somewhat unbalanced.
While his shooting, dribbling, and defending were decent, it was his passing and vision that truly set him apart. His vision and passing were that of a peak Kevin De Bruyne, one of the world's top playmakers in history. When deployed in the right tactical system, as the offensive catalyst, Tristan could play like a first-class star, with a potential overall rating of 85 or higher.
It had been ten days since he had asked Vardy for advice on long-range shooting techniques. In that time, alongside regular training sessions, Tristan had focused on improving his shot.
Thanks to Vardy's guidance, his Long Shot attribute had increased from 45 to 50, while his Shot Power had risen from 57 to 60. His Endurance had also seen a small boost, climbing from 57 to 58. While his shooting stats weren't outstanding yet, they were certainly better than before.
If Arsenal underestimated him tomorrow and allowed him to take shots from outside the box, his newfound skills combined could surprise them.
As Tristan reviewed his stats and planned for the final, his mind drifted back to the excitement and tension that tomorrow's match would bring. Tomorrow, everything would be decided on the hallowed turf of Wembley Stadium.
Just as Tristan was feeling satisfied with his progress, Mahrez, who had finished the episode, turned off the TV and glanced over at his roommate. Knocking on the bedside table to get his attention, he asked, "Tristan?"
Removing his headphones, Tristan turned toward Mahrez, a little confused. Mahrez motioned for him to take them off completely and then asked, "Do you think we have a chance to win the FA Cup tomorrow?"
The excitement and nervousness in Mahrez's voice were palpable. This was his first time in a cup final, and the pressure was starting to mount.
Tristan took a moment, then replied with a serious nod. "There's a chance."
Mahrez's eyes lit up, his face full of hope. "Really?"
But Tristan's next words stunned him.
"Not really."
"Eh?"
"Didn't you watch the match tonight?" Tristan continued. "Arsenal's been trophyless for nine years. They're desperate for one to end that embarrassing streak. They'll send out their strongest lineup and go all out from the start, thinking we're just a Championship side they can bully."
Mahrez looked puzzled, but Tristan remained calm, continuing his analysis.
"However, if we can weather their initial storm and hit them on the counter, we've got a real shot at it. They've got all the pressure on them now, not us."
Mahrez's tension melted away as Tristan's words sank in. Of course! The real pressure was on Arsenal, who couldn't afford to go another year without silverware.
Before heading off to sleep, Tristan received a single text from his mom and dad.
Julia Hale: "Good luck, my boy. I know you'll make us proud. Can't wait to see you on the field tomorrow, we will be there.💙"
