THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME
First Time Starting Line-Up

After Zachary's holiday on Sunday, he spent the next few days training like crazy. As a complement to the team's training sessions, he spends the rest of his time in the gym or undergoing additional training alone in Lerkendal. On Monday night, he even remained on the training ground until eight p.m., continuing to practice his skills in picking up dead balls.

Zachary understood that if he honed his dead-ball technique to the highest level possible, he would definitely get an early position in the starting line-up. There was no doubt in his mind about it. As long as he maintains a high conversion rate with free-kicks, it is unlikely the coach will leave him on the bench as a good dead-ball taker gives the team a definite option to score. So, Zachary spends a lot of time training in the field or in GOAT Skills Simulator.

Time passed quickly, and soon after Tuesday night. It is time for Coach Johansen to mention the match squad once again.

"Good night, everyone," Coach Johansen said after everyone sat in Rosenborg's tactics room.

"Good night, coach," replied the players, more or less in unison.

Coach Johansen nodded. "I'm sure we're ready to face Tromso Idrettslag tomorrow at 19:00 here in Lerkendal. We've perfected the tactics and game plan in the training sessions over the last two days. Didn't we?" He swept his gaze across the room.

"Yes, coach."

"That's great" said the coach with a small smile. “We were able to perform well in the second half of the match against Aalesunds at the weekend. I need us to build on that momentum and keep winning. I need focus and creativity on the pitch. Remember that we are a strong team. We don't have to be afraid of the opponent. They are the ones who should be afraid of us. So, play with confidence, play with passion, and most importantly, play as a team. That is the only way to keep winning and get back on the table. Are we together?"

"Yes, coach."

Coach Johansen glanced at his watch before continuing. "It's late. We've been spending all night on corner kick training, and I'm sure you all must be very tired. So, I'm not gonna take much of your time tonight." He smiled, stepping towards the screen where the 4-3-3 formation had just appeared.

"We're going to keep playing with a 4-3-3 formation in tomorrow's game" the coach said, pointing to the screen. "However, I have made some changes to the formation to help us accommodate promising new players in our first team. Instead of playing with one defensive midfielder here—" He paused for a moment on the position on the screen. "We will play with two defensive midfielders. That means both defensive midfielders will remain defensively oriented until I say otherwise. The rest will play according to plan without any changes to what I ask of them on the pitch..."

Zachary listened closely as the coach continued his explanation of the main points of formation and game plan for the next few minutes. Although he promised it would not take long, he still discussed the simplest point, trying to explain it to the players. It seemed like he hoped to infuse that information into the minds of his players with sheer willpower.

Despite this, no players, including Zachary, filed a single complaint. They are all in their best behavior and listening attentively. They all want to be in the coach's good book. Especially because the coach will announce the squad for the next game. None of them would risk bothering him with the least amount of attention during the meeting. With such an atmosphere in the tactics room, minutes passed and moments later, Coach Johansen got to the point of mentioning the match squad for the match against Tromso Idrettslag.

"OK, now I will start to mention the starting eleven in our 4-3-3 formation" said the coach with a small smile.

"Lund Hansen will be our goalkeeper, as always. Our four defenders are Mikael Dorsin, Tore Reginiussen, Stefan Strandberg and Cristian Gamboa. Our two defensive midfielders who will act as double shafts during the game are Mike Jensen and Jonas. Svensson's. Zachary Bemba will play as our attacking midfielder behind the attacker to complete our triangular midfield." The coach stopped, glancing at Zachary, who was sitting at the very back. "Are we together, Zachary? Is everything clear?" She asked.

"And finally," continued Coach Johansen, "we have Tobias Mikkelsen, Tarik Elyounoussi, and Nicki Nielsen as the three attackers. Nicki will play as a centre-forward through the middle, while Tarik and Tobias will be on the left and right flanks. That's it for the starting eleven."

"On the bench" continued the coach without a break. "We have Daniel rlund, Brede Moe, Verner Ronning, Ole Selnaes, Mix Diskerud, Borek Dockal, and John Chibuike. That's all for the squad."

"A question?" ask Coach Johansen after announcing the squad.

All players, including Zachary, remained silent. The coach has discussed the game plan several times over the past three days. Everyone is tired of hearing it. And, of course, they would not dare to ask the coach about the line-up of players because it is a forbidden thing to do in a football team. The coaches have the final decision about the line-up. No one else, not even the club chairman, has the right to question the coach about them. The players can't do it either.

Okay, good then," Coach Johansen said with a smile. "Because there are no questions, consider it a day. Those who are not in the squad, please work harder. As I promised, I'll definitely give you a chance if you stay true to your football."

"For players on the squad, the match will start tomorrow at 19:00. So, we'll meet at two in the afternoon to begin the preparations. Don't late. Good night."

As soon as Coach Johansen ended his speech, the players began to come out of the tactics room. Zachary exchanged words with some of his team-mates, such as Mikael Dorsin. They congratulated him for making the squad before they came out of the tactics room.

Moments later, Zachary leaves Lerkendal and reaches his apartment thirty minutes later. Not long after he stepped into his living room, a system notification rang out in his mind.

"DING"

"Users have completed the mission of the hidden system: Join Rosenborg Starting Eleven before Match Day 9 of Tippeligaen," the voice of the AI rang out in his mind.

"Users have earned 500 Juju points to complete the mission."

"Please keep working hard to unlock more hidden missions."

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