God Of football

Chapter 48: Orchestrator

"Bad tackle Gabriel,really bad tackle from you and the rest of you are just not doing enough " Baraja screamed at his players.

They hadn’t taken their chances against Sevilla’s sloppy team. "The match should have been 3-0 by now if not for your amateurish mistakes" Baraja continued to rant.

The players had their heads down as they knew what he was saying was true.

The Sevilla team they played today wasn’t the old Sevilla they knew.

The Sevilla team they were playing wasn’t at it’s best today and they should not be drawing against such a side.

*sigh* Coach baraja proceeded to the tactical board. He explained the tactics to the players for the second time since they didn’t seem to understand.

After he was done in 10 minutes,he made 2 changes,opting to bring Mark on for Gabriel and Pietro on for Pepelu who had taken a knock earlier in the first half.

Izan sat in his seat with a bottle in hand. He had been listening to Coach Baraja’s ranting and couldn’t help but side with him.

He shook his head and started heading towards the bench. Coach Baraja looked on as Izan walked away and was contemplating on bringing him on.

He had taken on this job because this team had a special place in his heart as he was a former player but he hadn’t been given much financial freedom.

His budget was very limited so he had to make do with what he had. Izan had been somewhat of a silver lining for him.

And he didn’t want to risk the kids career for his own ambition. Coach Baraja stood there for sometime and in the end decided to wait and see.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

[COMMENTATORS]

’We are back from the break folks as both teams come out from the tunnel.

The lineups have seen some changes as on Valencia,Mark comes on for Gabriel who made a very basic mistake during the first half and Pietro also coming on for Pepelu who had taken a knock earlier during the game.

’Yes Andres and it seems that on the Seville side,Oliver is coming on for Eric lamela who had been silent for most of the first half. Let’s see what these changes bring to the field after the restart ’

The referee blew his whistle to restart the second half and immediately after the restart, Sevilla started attacking.

They seemed like a different team out there.They played compact and simple football while the opponents chased the ball.

After a while the Valencia team retreated to their half and had numbers in their box. They sat deep waiting for a chance to strike and a chance they did get.

In the 57th minute, Suso went on a solo run on the wings before sending a cross into the box where En-nesyri was lurking.

The ball however,was smacked away by Mark who was besides him. The Sevilla players all thought the ball would go out for a throw but they couldn’t have been more wrong as Pietro who hadn’t tracked back yet controlled the ball neatly.

Pietro quickly turned to face the opponent side and started sprinting. He kept an eye out for support but seeing as it wasn’t coming,he decided to go alone.

His thoughts however were interrupted as he saw Andre Almeida make a run. Taking advantage of the opposition’s lack of numbers on defense,Pietro sent a low ball to Almeida who trapped the ball carefully.

Andre who was running with the ball found Hugo duro alongside him. An opponent player tried to delay Almeida by holding his shirt but the latter evaded his hand before laying off the ball to Hugo duro.

Hugo duro took a touch before looking up and after seeing that there was no obstacles between him and the keeper,he let the ball fly.

Almost everyone in the stadium thought the ball would go in but the ball took a deflection off Yassine Bonou

The speed of the ball decreased significantly and before the ball could cross the line, Marcos Acuna who was nearest to the ball cleared it off the line.

Sighs and sounds of dissapointment could be heard all around the stadium. At the same time too, relieved faces could be seen all around the stadium.

The Sevilla fans were happy they hadn’t conceded. "Izan" Coach Baraja who was on the touchline said.

Coach Moreno was besides him heard what he had said and understood the assignment.

Coach Moreno went to the bench and quickly told Izan to warm up. Izan who could not wait anymore,stood up and proceeded with the warm up.

The warmup didn’t take that long as Izan was done in 4 minutes and in the 67th minute a change was made.

[Announcer]

’Substitution. Number 21 Izan Miura Hernandéz coming on for Number 10 Andre Almeida’

The away fans started clapping for Almeida who was coming off but also cheering for Izan who was coming on.

Most of the club’s fans were now familiar with the wonderkid their club had produced and many had seen his performances during the end of the season and also during preseason.

Izan high-fived Andre Almeida before entering the pitch. He went straight to a few players and delivered the message their coach had given.

Baraja had told them to switch to a 4-2-3-1 so as to accommodate Izan. After the throw in,Izan began

[COMMENTATOR POV]

’Probably the last kick of the game Cantor and its Izan who’s taking it. I don’t know if he’s good at setpieces but he has to be since Gaya willingly gave up the ball

’Yes Andres, he has to be at least some level of good before they entrust this kid with setpieces like these.

’Well lets see what happens Cantor. Izan with the run-up annnd..... Oh my Goddddd!!!!!’

’What a goal. Wonderkid,wonderboy Izan’

’Beautiful from the wonderboy. What a magnificent goal from the young kid. We all thought that ball was going out but how wrong we were as it rustled the net’

Izan run towards the away fans and slid on the ground before standing up to bow.