The morning mist still hung low over the Cardiff City Stadium when Firdaus arrived. The sun hadn't yet pierced through the cloud cover, and the dew clung stubbornly to the grass. He parked in the manager's bay for the first time, the sign still reading "Interim" underneath his name. He stared at it for a moment, his jaw tightening slightly. It was a reminder—respect was temporary.
Inside the facility, the smell of fresh coffee and detergent mixed in the air. Staff were already preparing bibs, cones, GPS trackers, and water bottles. Even though the training ground had seen countless managers, today felt different. Everyone moved with a bit more alertness. Firdaus's quiet presence from the Leeds match hadn't gone unnoticed.
He moved through the corridors with deliberate calm, returning quiet greetings. The kitman offered a slight nod, the nutritionist gave a curious glance. Even the security guard who usually scrolled his phone stood upright as Firdaus passed by.
He stepped out onto the training pitch. The grass was immaculate, the morning silence broken only by the distant hum of a mower. He stood alone for a moment, breathing in the crisp air, scanning the space as if visualizing the coming battles.
"System," he whispered.
The HUD flashed to life.
[TRAINING GROUND MODULE – ACTIVE]
Features unlocked: Drill Customization, Targeted Growth, Hidden Bonuses, Fatigue Monitoring.
Firdaus tapped open the dashboard.
[Select Player: Rubin Colwill]
— Weakness: Finishing under pressure
— Suggestion: Post-press shooting drills w/ defender shadow
[Select Player: Perry Ng]
— Recovery lagging (left thigh strain)
— Suggestion: Light tactical shadowing + physiotherapy priority
[Select Player: Yakou Meite]
— Strength: Acceleration burst
— Bonus Available: Morale Boost if praised publicly
He moved quickly through the list, assigning individual focus areas. For Aaron Ramsey, he added a leadership buff. For Ollie Tanner, he initiated a surprise "Breakthrough Drill" designed to simulate real-match pressure.
Then came the hidden modifiers.
He chose one: "Training Intensity – Disguise"
Effect: All players will perceive the session as standard workload, regardless of applied focus. Reduces mental fatigue.
It was subtle, almost invisible. But it would give him an edge, especially on a squad that hadn't been pushed properly in weeks.
Assistant coach Omer Riza approached as players began to file out from the changing rooms. He carried a clipboard, his brow furrowed in half-curious concern.
"So… new week. Any thoughts on structure?"
"I've already finalized the drills," Firdaus replied without looking up from his tablet.
Omer raised an eyebrow. "Without discussing with me or the coaching staff?"
"I discussed it," Firdaus said flatly. "With the data."
Omer opened his mouth, then closed it again. He'd never worked under someone like this before.
"Alright then," he muttered, half-impressed. "Let's see what this 'data' teaches us."
Before he could press further, Firdaus turned and addressed the squad, his voice calm but unmistakably firm.
"Today's focus is transitions—defensive shape into forward pressure. We'll also finish with a series of small-sided games. Pay attention. There are no wasted movements."
The players began warming up. Firdaus watched in silence. His eyes weren't just on the drills. He was observing reactions.
Colwill looked energized, bouncing with sharpness. Ramsey, composed and sharp. Meite was joking with Romeo, but hit his passing targets cleanly. Perry Ng, however, still stretched cautiously on the side, clearly nursing his leg.
Firdaus quietly moved to Ng's side.
"How's the leg?"
Ng blinked in surprise. "Sore, but manageable. I've had worse."
"You're not here to prove anything. If it tightens, step out."
Ng hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Appreciate it."
But one figure stood out.
Callum O'Dowda.
The winger ran the drills but gave subtle signs: rolled eyes, slack body language, half-hearted jogs. He was compliant, but not committed. Firdaus noticed it all. In the passing drill, he cut corners. In the shooting drill, he barely followed instructions. He wasn't sabotaging—but he wasn't buying in either.
After the session, as players filed back into the changing rooms, O'Dowda lingered behind. He approached Firdaus with a towel over his shoulder, still catching his breath.
"Can I be honest, boss?" he asked.
Firdaus nodded once.
"I'm not sure what all this is. The new methods, the quiet sideline routine. Last match… maybe it worked. But it felt lucky."
Firdaus looked him dead in the eyes. "Are you done?"
O'Dowda held his gaze, then gave a casual shrug. "Just saying. The lads talk. Some of us aren't used to… this."
Firdaus didn't respond. He simply blinked, and as O'Dowda turned to walk away, Firdaus whispered:
"System. Log personality: Callum O'Dowda – Loyalty Level: Low. Resistance: Medium."
The system confirmed the entry with a quiet chime.
In truth, Firdaus wasn't surprised. Every squad had cracks. The key was knowing where they were before the pressure mounted.
Later that evening, Firdaus sat in his office, the lights low, the sound of distant boots echoing down the hall as the last staff left for the night. His tablet lay flat on the desk, open to the training review.
Progress rates were steady. Colwill showed a 3% improvement in finishing sharpness. Meite's morale was slightly elevated. Perry Ng's recovery was stabilizing.
Firdaus took another sip of his cold coffee, eyes narrowing on the metrics.
"System," he murmured.
[Daily Summary: Training Load Balanced. Player Feedback Neutral-Positive.]
He tapped open the full fatigue report. A color-coded chart displayed every player's condition.
Most were in the green. A few in yellow.
Then an alert flashed red across the interface.
[WARNING – INJURY RISK]
Player: Joe Ralls – Hidden Fatigue Level: Critical. Risk of soft tissue injury if played full match.
Firdaus stared at the alert, his fingers frozen.
Joe Ralls was more than just a midfielder—he was a symbol. A steady presence for the fans. A leader in the dressing room. Bench him, and questions would come. Play him, and risk losing him for weeks.
The screen blinked quietly.
He leaned back, fingers steepled, and considered the options. He could rotate, bring in Andy Rinomhota or even use Ryan Wintle deeper. But would the chemistry hold? Would the media question his selection? Would the fans?
A soft buzz interrupted his thoughts—an email from the media officer. Interview request. BBC Wales. They wanted insight into his "tactical innovation."
Firdaus scoffed under his breath.
Innovation? No. Just the system.
He turned his eyes back to the red-highlighted name on the tablet.
Four days to prepare.
Four days to decide.
To be continued...
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