Unbeatable (4)
Motivation plays a huge role in developing players' skills.
Tweeeeet-!
Ever since joining the A-team training sessions, Joni Montoya's form had skyrocketed even faster.
Apart from his sharp right-footed kicks and the occasional bursts of great dribbling, he'd often shown visceral apprehension in defense or struggled with positioning.... but today?
Swish-!
Playing on the right flank, he was putting on a dazzling performance with no visible weaknesses whatsoever. Especially impressive: even when he let an opponent break past him, he'd chase them down relentlessly and win the ball back with a tackle—not just once, but three times in the first half alone. It wasn't an exaggeration to say his defensive focus had peaked today.
If Joni Montoya kept up this level of form, he'd have a real shot at breaking into the A-team squad next season and fighting for a starting spot. Sure, there were already two right-backs competing for the position in the current A-team lineup, but they were just average players without any standout strengths.
Joni must have sensed that himself. And that realization was probably fueling his motivation, pushing his form to new heights.
Thud-!
With Joni playing so well today, the team was sending the ball his way more often during build-up play from the back.
He'd receive it and boldly drive up the flank along the touchline, either breaking through or laying it off, often overlapping all the way to the second line of attack. And when we lost possession? He'd sprint back down to join the defense with insane work rate.
The most praiseworthy part of Joni's play today...
Tweeeeet-!
"...!"
...was this razor-sharp right-footed cross. A perfect delivery aimed right at my head as I surged into the box—like a parcel straight to my door. All I had to do was time my leap, connect cleanly...
Thwang-!
...and the net would ripple without fail.
In this Round 32 match, Joni and I had already combined for three goals. You might expect him to get overexcited and start slinging wild crosses into the box willy-nilly by now, but he stayed cool and composed to the end.
I liked that about him.
"Stay calm, Miguel."
"Ha. Damn it. That guy's fouling me every time I try to dribble. Fucking hell. And the ref won't even give a card. Shit."
Hm. Maybe the contrast with this guy made it stand out more...
Miguel Amaro, who'd been showering the opponent's right-back with nonstop praise (of the trash-talk variety), had struggled with breakthroughs throughout the first half.
It was one of Miguel's weaknesses. Once his dribbles started landing, he'd tear through the defense like a whirlwind. But run into a tough matchup like this, and he'd switch to stealth mode.
Still...
Thud-!
"...!"
...he had the grit to eventually break through anyway.
I didn't think there was a simple answer to it.
"We won again! We keep winning! Woo-hoo!"
"12 in a row! 12 straight wins!"
"Who the hell's gonna stop us?!"
"The title's right there—we can taste it!"
"VamoOOOOOOOs!!!"
Just win, baby. That's all that matters.
He'd wanted to be a soccer player. A professional one, specifically.
He'd achieved that dream. But he hadn't become the kind of "successful" soccer player he'd envisioned.
Twenty-five. Still young, but Jordi Calavera decided to retire.
The main reason? His form had hit rock bottom after back-to-back seasons plagued by injuries.
He could have lost his drive in life, but Jordi quickly found a new dream: coaching.
Starting as a youth coach, he steadily climbed the ranks. He never settled for the status quo, relentlessly studying tactics from legendary managers and keeping up with the latest trends in soccer strategy.
By thirty, he was managing AD Alcorcón's U18 team when...
"I've had my eye on you for a while. How about becoming our club's manager?"
The offer came from the owner of CD Mensajero, a fifth-division Tercera División side. It was his first adult team gig, and though it was the lowest semi-pro league, Jordi didn't mind one bit.
"Don't stand still after passing. Move to find better space. From now on, we're building up like this to drag them right to their doorstep."
He had his dreams—and his stubborn vision.
In a semi-pro league that favored rough, direct soccer, Jordi coached his players in fluid, pass-based build-up play. The CD Mensajero squad stumbled at first but gradually adapted. After all, it required more touches on the ball than brute-force soccer, which naturally made it more fun.
The problem? Results weren't coming.
As the losses piled up, players grew frustrated with their coach forcing an ill-fitting style on them. They wanted soccer that won now, not fun soccer.
Jordi, on the other hand, believed that even if short-term results lagged, success would follow in time. He kept persuading his players, determined to instill his ideal soccer in CD Mensajero.
But...
"Sorry, Jordi. Results have been poor lately, and the players are grumbling. I know you're a promising coach with a great vision... but it just doesn't fit our team right now."
The challenge ended in failure.
But it wasn't all for nothing. As the saying goes, opportunity follows crisis.
"I've been watching you closely, Jordi. If I hand you our B-team, I think the club's future gets brighter. Results don't matter. Implant that soccer you believe in."
Newly appointed AD Alcorcón technical director Iñigo Chapé extended a hand.
There was no reason to turn down his old club. He hadn't planned on sitting out anyway. And the freedom to coach his ideal style without results pressure? Huge appeal.
But he didn't stubbornly cling to it like before. As AD Alcorcón B manager, Jordi blended ideals with reality. He'd learned the hard way at CD Mensajero that chasing perfection alienated players.
Balancing the two took time to bear fruit. But after over a season, his players started showing plays that fit his vision.
Results still lagged, though.
Then, in February this year, he met a striker with otherworldly scoring instinct.
Tweeeeet-!
Thwang-!
The team's completion, barely half-finished before, shot up to nearly 100% overnight.
A player who single-handedly won games with pure talent, transcending tactics. Every time Jordi watched him, he wondered why such a monster was here instead of pro leagues.
Cha Tae-oh.
With him aboard, the team went on a winning streak—and Jordi's dream soccer finally shone. No matter the play, players trusted Tae-oh to rack up goals and secure victory. That confidence erased their old passive habits, born of fear that mistakes would derail their pro dreams.
Even if they erred, they embraced higher-level soccer with unity, boosting team completion.
It supercharged individual growth too. Some players improved beyond recognition in record time.
And Tae-oh stood at the center.
'Theo's a player beyond tactics.'
Despite minimal coaching, he'd meshed perfectly with team tactics from game one. That meant he could deliver insane performances in any system.
'That kid... he's guaranteed to light it up in the A-team next season.'
Jordi felt immense gratitude toward Tae-oh. Thanks to him, ideal soccer had become reality—with top results as a bonus.
Finally, Round 34. The last match.
After a big Round 32 win, leaders CDA Navalcarnero snapped a drought, holding a 2-point gap. But Round 33's draw put Alcorcón B top by 1.
A win here secured the title—and promotion—regardless of others.
Tweeeeet-!
Thwang-!
That monstrous striker? Hat-trick in the first half alone, handing the team momentum early.
Not enough? He added three more in the second, crushing the opponents' spirit entirely.
Victory was in sight. Not just any three points—this was for the title and Segunda Federación promotion.
Beep- Beeeep-!
The ref blew full time.
"Champions-!"
"We did it! We really did it!"
"Next season, third division!"
"VamoOOOOOOOs!!!"
The whistle crowning Segunda Federación Group 5 champions.
In that moment, not just the players—Jordi Calavera felt the emotion swell.
Just months ago, relegation loomed. Now, 14 straight wins propelled them to first. The joy was indescribable.
As he hugged players, sharing the triumph...
Pat-pat-!
Someone tapped his back. Turning, he saw Iñigo Chapé, who'd slipped onto the pitch unnoticed.
With congrats on the title, the technical director made a quiet proposal.
"If you're free tonight, how about dinner? We can celebrate the win—and discuss something important."