C2 Training Plan

"What's wrong with Lucian?" Suren wondered, staring at the tightly closed door with a puzzled expression.

"Who knows? If Lucian doesn't step in, are we doomed?"

A young man, his face marred by acne, clutched a soccer ball with a look of utter dejection.

As the children disappeared into the distance, Lucian turned and made his way back to the backyard.

Though it was just a sports equipment shop, Lucian was far from poor. Despite his modest needs for material possessions, he wouldn't settle for a cramped living space. That's why he had purchased several neighboring stores, amassing over five hundred square meters of space.

Aside from the area at the front reserved for retail, he had transformed the rest into living quarters.

He passed through the hall, bucket in hand, and entered the innermost room. This space was adorned with photographs from his days coaching Tarragona eighteen years prior, featuring both club and media snapshots.

In the center stood a King's Cup trophy, a prize from his inaugural coaching year, personally awarded by the King of Spain. It was the only trophy he had brought home, leaving the rest in Tarragona's hall of honor.

Setting the bucket down, Lucian grabbed cleaning tools from the corner and set to work. For years, he had employed cleaners for the rest of the shop, but this room was different. He insisted on maintaining it himself, refusing entry to anyone else.

After about half an hour, the room was spotless, not that it was ever really dirty—Lucian made sure to clean it frequently. Surrounded by the various articles, photographs, and that singular trophy, he was swept into a sea of memories.

Indeed, history has a way of persisting. The season after Lucian's return home, Tarragona slipped back into the Segunda División de España and failed to climb back to La Liga. The three league titles, three King's Cup victories, and two Champions League championships he had secured became the pinnacle of Tarragona's achievements.

The promising players he had scouted for the team were quickly traded away by the new coach. Though that coach resigned the following year due to poor results, his decisions had plunged the team into a chasm from which they struggled to emerge.

This year's UEFA Champions League was clinched by none other than Rafael Benítez, the esteemed coach of Real Madrid. Benitez, a product of Real Madrid's youth system, was once lured away by Lucian to Tarragona. It was believed that he would secure a bright future for the team, but ultimately, he found his way back to Real Madrid.

Lucian's stint as a head coach, though devoid of the system, was far from futile. His three-year tenure in top-flight football imparted invaluable lessons. Moreover, he had earned his UEFA Pro coaching license, the highest coaching qualification available globally.

Regarding his professional capabilities, Lucian may not have reached the pinnacle he did with the system, but he was certainly on par with world-class international coaches.

He had become overly dependent on the system, overlooking his own abilities. Frankly, he had never abandoned his passion for football; otherwise, he wouldn't be running a sports equipment store in a small town despite his considerable fortune.

Deep down, he was always waiting for the system's return because of his love for the game. His seclusion was driven by the hope of one day making a comeback in European football. Yet, as eighteen years slipped by, that hope was fading.

At his lowest point, Suren and his friends showed up, inviting him to coach the school team. Despite his initial reluctance, the prospect rekindled his passion as if igniting his very bloodstream. His heart was racing with excitement once more.

"I crave the thrill of the game, the return to the pitch, the sweet taste of victory. I'm over forty now; I can't afford to wait any longer."

In that moment, he realized what he truly needed. It wasn't the glory of the top leagues, but the chance to lead a team, to be on the field orchestrating their path to victory. Nothing else mattered.

"Who's there?" At the sound of the doorbell, Suren hurried to the living room and opened the door, surprised to find Lucian standing there.

"Lucian! What brings you here? Come on in, I'll go get my dad."

"No need," Lucian replied. "Just tell your teammates that if they're serious about winning the championship, they should come to my store after school."

Lucian walked away without a backward glance, leaving Suren disheveled at the door. It took a while before Suren, no longer able to see Lucian, leapt up excitedly.

The kids who frequented his shop were well aware of Lucian's expertise. Whenever there was a significant match, they'd converge there to watch the live broadcast all night long.

Lucian would provide commentary as they watched, and his insights were clearly more professional than those of the TV commentators. His predictions almost always came true.

To these kids, Lucian was like the sage from a novel, and now that he was willing to lend a hand, they were sure to make their mark in the competition.

"I've looked into the schools competing this time, and I must say, your team is one of the weakest," Lucian declared in a room converted into a conference space, where over twenty young men listened intently.

"Setting aside other factors, the school teams from key city and provincial high schools recruit athletes through special programs. Beyond the players' natural talents, the level of training they receive far surpasses yours."

He scanned the group, noting the absence of any discouragement on their faces.

"However, the underdog can still triumph over the favorite with the right strategy. But we can't rely solely on tactics. Over the next two months, leading up to the competition, we'll face about twenty matches. We need to enhance our own abilities."

He then distributed the training materials he had prepared overnight, handing them to Suren to pass out by name.

"I've tailored specific training regimens for each of your positions. This is only the first phase. You must follow these plans before the competition begins. Without a dedicated coach, it's up to you to stay disciplined.

"The competition starts in ten days. I'll review your progress in a week. If anyone falls short, I'm afraid I'll have to step back from this endeavor."

To coach soccer at the elementary or middle school level, one must hold at least a D-level coaching certificate from the Asian Football Confederation. Lucian, preferring to keep his identity secret, couldn't officially coach the team, so he resorted to this indirect approach to guide the school team.

Moreover, the school employed a dedicated physical education teacher who also coached the school team. Lucian was aware that this teacher was a certified football coach with a D-level coaching license. Without such credentials, the school wouldn't be eligible to compete in tournaments.

So far, Lucian had been discreetly assigning training tasks to the students. If the coach discovered that the students were bypassing him and seeking Lucian for training and tactical advice instead, he would undoubtedly be enraged.