England's Greatest

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.....

The gym at Belvoir Drive was alive as the Leicester City squad continued their training. The clinking of weights, the hum of exercise machines, and the occasional banter filled the air. 

Tristan was perched on an exercise bike, pedaling at a steady pace, sweat dripping from his brow as his eyes locked onto the LCD TV mounted on the wall. The Europa League draw was on, and Leicester City was about to make history for the first time in over fifty years.

Mahrez, mid-rep on the bench press, stole a glance at the screen before turning to Tristan with a smirk. "You ever thought you'd see Leicester City in Europe?"

Tristan's smirk mirrored his as he continued to pedal without breaking a sweat. "Surreal? Sure. But give it a couple of years, and people will be more used to us than they realize."

Mahrez chuckled and shook his head, setting the barbell back into place. "I like the confidence. Let's see if it holds up when we're playing against the big boys."

The draw continued, with teams being picked one by one. As expected, Leicester's name was called last, a fourth-pot side still fighting for their European fate. The final group flashed on the screen:

Group L:

Legia Warsaw (Poland)

Trabzonspor (Turkey)

Metalurh Kharkiv

(Ukraine)

Leicester City (England)

Tristan slowed his pedaling, leaning forward just a bit to take in the draw. A grin slowly spread across his face. "Not bad," he muttered to himself.

Mahrez, noticing the grin, raised an eyebrow. "What's with the smile? You think this is an easy group?"

Tristan wiped the sweat off his forehead with his arm and slowed down the bike's resistance. "If we don't get out of this group, we might as well pack up and retire early."

Mahrez laughed, lifting a towel to his face as he walked over to Tristan. "You sure about that? Trabzonspor's no pushovers."

"I know damn well you don't even know where that is located." Tristan responded hopping off the bike laughing.He grabbed a towel from a nearby bench and wiped his face. "Reputation doesn't win games. We do. And honestly, do you think they could shut us down?"

Mahrez shook his head, clearly amused. "Alright, Mr. Confidence. What's your prediction? Think we're going to qualify?"

Tristan tossed the towel over his shoulder and gave Mahrez a nonchalant look, his tone calm but resolute. "One hundred percent."

"One hundred?" Mahrez repeated, raising an eyebrow. "You're that sure?"

Tristan slapped him lightly on the back as he turned to walk away. "Because we've got the strength. And also, because I'm not a fan of losing."

As Tristan made his way to the showers, Mahrez stood there shaking his head with a grin, muttering under his breath, "Fucking bastard. Where does this guy get all his ego from?"

In the showers, Tristan let the hot water soothe his muscles, washing away the fatigue from another intense training session. 

The physical toll of Leicester City's campaign was beginning to add up, mentally he was fine still focused on helping the team thrive.

The memory of a meeting with Pearson replayed in his mind a few days ago. 

....

Flashback:

"Tristan," Pearson had begun, his gaze steady, "I want you to focus all your energy on the Premier League and Europa League this season."

Tristan, seated opposite him, had raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "And the FA Cup? League Cup?"

Pearson's tone was firm but measured. "We're prioritizing," he explained. "I'll rotate the squad for those competitions. You're nineteen, Tristan. You've already proven yourself in domestic tournaments, but the Premier League and Europa League? That's a different level. Your energy is too valuable to risk on everything."

End…

As the water continued to stream down, Tristan's thoughts returned to the present. He knew the sacrifices were worth it if he could lead Leciester to greater heights than in his first life.

As the five major leagues resumed their battles, the transfer market reached its final, frantic stages. Yet, amidst all the last-minute rumors and deals, one transfer shocked the footballing world: Manchester United signed Argentine star Ángel Di María from Champions League winners Real Madrid for a record-breaking £59.7 million.

This fee obliterated the previous Premier League transfer record of £50 million, set by Fernando Torres' move to Chelsea in January 2011. In one fell swoop, Di María not only became the most expensive signing in Premier League history but also the most expensive player ever purchased by an English club.

The reaction was immediate, and the football world erupted.

Twitter, as always, became a battleground of opinions.

@Mo ali: "£59.7M for Di María?! Worth every penny! This is the start of our resurgence under Van Gaal. Let's gooo! 🔥🔥 #MUFC"

@Kezman: "United breaking transfer records while being out of the Champions League. Only them! 😂😂 But credit where it's due, Di María is class."

@MadridistaPride: "We sold our best playmaker for chump change! What is Perez doing?! 😡"

@Brandon: "£59.7M for a winger in the Prem? The pressure on Di María is going to be INSANE. Hope he's ready!"

Popular football shows like Match of the Day, Sky Sports News, and TalkSPORT were buzzing with opinions on the monumental transfer.

Gary Lineker on Match of the Day: "Well, Manchester United had to make a statement, didn't they? After the disastrous season they had under Moyes, signing someone of Di María's caliber is a massive show of intent. The fee? Eye-watering, of course, but you're getting a world-class player who just won the Champions League. Whether he can adapt to the Premier League is the real question."

Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports: "It's a bold move, no doubt about it. Di María's a game-changer on his day, but let's not forget, he was sold because Real Madrid didn't think he was indispensable. That price tag is going to hang over him, and we've seen before how it can weigh players down in the Premier League."

Paul Merson on Soccer Saturday: "He's a brilliant player, don't get me wrong, but £59.7 million? I mean, that's a lot of pressure. If he doesn't hit the ground running, you know the media will be all over him. And let's not forget, the Premier League is a completely different beast compared to La Liga."

The signing was dominating headlines, and even Real Madrid players weighed in during post-match interviews. Cristiano Ronaldo, Di María's former teammate, remarked:

"He's one of the best players I've ever played with. I know he'll succeed at United because he's got the quality and the mindset. I'll miss him, but I wish him the best."

Back in England, the stage was set for Di María to prove whether he could live up to the hype and the record fee. With pundits divided and fans watching closely, the Argentine winger was about to embark on a journey that could either cement his legacy or turn into one of the Premier League's most scrutinized transfers.

....

Matchday: August 31,2024 

Arsenal entered the match with a reinforced squad. Their marquee signing, Alexis Sánchez, brought flair and energy to the attack after his £35 million move from Barcelona. 

Other additions, such as Welbeck, Debuchy, Chambers, and Ospina, bolstered their ranks. However, the absence of starting striker Olivier Giroud, sidelined with a fibula fracture, left Wenger relying on the inconsistent Yaya Sanogo to lead the line.

In Leicester's locker room, Pearson knew that despite Arsenal's big-money moves, his side was capable of causing an upset. The Foxes had already proven their mettle in last season's FA Cup final, where they had triumphed over the North London giants. But that the Gunners were a different proposition this season, with the addition of Sánchez bringing a whole new level of dynamism to their attack.

As the players gathered in the Leicester City dressing room before the match, Pearson addressed them with calm but firm voice fully confident in that team. 

"Alright, lads, this is it. 100% focus today. Arsenal are a dangerous side, and they've got match-winners all over the pitch—Sánchez, Cazorla, Ramsey. One lapse, and they'll punish us. But let's not forget who beat them in the FA Cup final. We've done it before, and we can do it again. Stay tight, stay disciplined, and we'll give them a fight."

The players nodded in agreement, their faces etched with focus. James Vardy, who had been on fire in recent weeks, clapped his hands and shot a glance at his teammates.

"We've beaten them before, and we'll do it again today. Let's show them what Leicester City is made of!"

"Come on,let's go, we've got this," added Morgan, the captain.

Pearson, sensing the growing energy, continued, "You know what to do, follow the plan—stay organized, play the game on our terms. If we stay compact and punish their mistakes, they won't know what hit them."

As the players stood, nodding and murmuring their agreement.

Meanwhile, over in the Arsenal camp, Wenger had gathered his squad with a more measured approach. He knew how much pressure the team was under. Not only had the club invested heavily, but their opening results had shown both promise and frustration. 

The absence of Giroud meant he would have to get creative with his attacking setup. Sánchez had already started to make his mark, but the burden of scoring was now placed squarely on his shoulders.

"We need to approach this with patience," Wenger explained, his voice calm but firm. "Leicester have a good record against us recently. They'll play with intensity and press us, but we must remain composed. We know we have the quality to win this, but we must take our chances when they come. Sánchez, you will lead the line today. And I expect the others to support him."

....

Before the game, standing in the player tunnel alongside the mascots, Tristan's attention was drawn to Alexis Sánchez, who had just made the high-profile move from Barcelona. As the two stood there, their eyes briefly met. Tristan couldn't help but cast a curious glance at Sánchez.

Sánchez, feeling Tristan's gaze, couldn't help but wonder. Is this the kid that the boss emphasized to focus on? The thought lingered in his mind as he studied the young Leicester midfielder, trying to gauge him.

Just as Sánchez turned his attention back to his teammates, Tristan's eyes shifted back to him. Without warning, Tristan broke the silence with a casual, yet somewhat broken, Spanish phrase.

"Hey, how's the weather in England?" he asked laughing in his head.

.....

End of chapter 

Good luck to everyone fasting for this month