Glory Of The Football Manager System

Chapter 133

Chapter 133: The First Week III

Back on the pitch, it was slightly better. The players were thinking more, their movements more considered. But the intensity, the instinct, wasn’t there yet. It was like they were performing a dance they’d just learned, counting the steps in their heads. The Pressing Success Rate crept up to 22%. A marginal gain, but a gain nonetheless.

At the end of the session, I asked a few players to stay behind for some extra technical work. Nya, Reece, and a few others eagerly agreed. I glanced over at Connor, who was already walking towards the changing rooms. "Connor, a word?"

He turned, a look of annoyance on his face. "Yeah, gaffer?"

"A few of us are doing some extra work on passing drills. Fancy joining?"

He shrugged. "Nah, I’m good. Got stuff to do."

"What stuff?"

"Important stuff."

"More important than improving?"

He flashed that grin again. "Gaffer, I’m Connor Blake. I don’t need extra work. I’m already brilliant."

He turned and walked away before I could reply. Nya, standing next to me, shook his head. "He’s unbelievable."

"In a bad way?"

"In every way," Nya said. "But mostly bad."

I watched him go, a cold knot forming in my stomach. The system flashed a notification in my vision, a feature I hadn’t seen before: [SYSTEM] Player Relationship Update: Connor Blake. Respect: 35% → 34%. Reason: Disagreement with training methods.

Thursday, June 4th

on a shortened pitch. I hoped the competitive element would spark the intensity that was

of a real game, all the lessons from the

stood and waited for the

"We

faces. Confusion. Frustration. Some, like Connor, looked bored. I was losing them. The realization hit me like

brick wall for me. These were elite prospects, some on professional contracts, who had been

of the pitch, his arms crossed. He’d been watching for the last half hour. My heart sank. My first week, and the

as the players

one word for it," I said. "Disaster is another. Catastrophe. Shambles.

smiled slightly. "It’s week one. They’re

not getting it at all," I admitted, the words tasting like ash. "They’re not buying in. Especially Connor. He thinks he’s

too good for everything," Gary said. "That’s

asking them to unlearn years of coaching. You’re asking them to work harder than they’ve ever worked before.

And you need to be patient. Don’t lose faith in your methods, but don’t expect miracles overnight. Just keep chipping

words were a lifeline. I had been so focused on immediate results, on proving myself, that

Friday, June 5th

to building relationships. No intense tactical work. Instead, I

He came into my office with his notebook, full of questions. We talked for half an hour about his role, his ambitions, his love for the

to know how he could be a better leader, how he could help get the other players on board.

Manuel Neuer, and I explained how his positioning was the key to

and a meeting without a clear purpose would be a waste

Saturday, June 6th

full 11v11 training match. I kept my instructions simple: "Just try

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