"Oi, Marshall! You deaf or what?" Jesse Lingard peeked back into the room, one boot already on. "Coach is gonna fry you if you're late!"
Alex shook himself out of his daze, heart still thumping. "Y-Yeah! Coming!"
He scrambled into his training kit—blessedly clean and simple—and paused at the door.
He flexed his right knee.
No pain.
No stiffness.
He blinked, then burst into a grin. "Oh, this is mad…"
[System Tip: First Training Session Detected][Mini-Quest: Impress the coaching staff.][Reward: +2 Composure, +1 Football IQ]
"Oh, you're cheeky, aren't you?" Alex muttered under his breath.
"Who you talking to?" Jesse asked.
"No one. Just... psyching myself up."
The training pitch behind Carrington shimmered under the summer sun. The smell of grass, the distant whistle, the buzz of lads juggling footballs—everything was just like he remembered.
Except now, he had something they didn't.
A second chance.And a system.
"Right! Gather up, boys!" the coach barked. "Warm-ups. Quick!"
Alex joined the stretching line. Ahead of him was a younger Adnan Januzaj, with Will Keane and Larnell Cole nearby. All faces from the past.
He kept quiet. Observing.
[System Note: Analyzing Player Attributes…]Dribbling: 62Passing: 65Shooting: 61Pace: 63Stamina: 58Composure: 60Football IQ: 59Charisma: 70
[New Trait Detected: "Veteran Soul"](Passive Effect: +10% Awareness in game situations)
Not world-class, but better than most at his level. It was enough to make a mark.
The first session was a blur of sprints, passing drills, and tactical movement. Alex focused on precision, breathing, timing—everything he once lost to injury.
By the time they were into small-sided games, he was drenched in sweat but grinning like a madman.
"Ball, ball!" Jesse shouted. Alex flicked it to him with a reverse pass.
"Nice!" Jesse smirked. "Didn't know you had that in your locker."
"Oh, mate," Alex laughed, "I've got a whole cupboard full."
[Mini-Quest Complete. Reward Claimed.][+2 Composure, +1 Football IQ][Hidden Stat Unlocked: Vision – 60]
After the session, the coach called a few names. Alex's was last.
"You three, changing room. Sir Alex wants a word."
Alex froze. "Wait—Sir Alex... Ferguson?"
The other lads snickered. "You nervous already?"
"Bit starstruck," he muttered. Truth was, he never thought he'd meet the man again. Not after the injury, not in the old timeline. This was a miracle.
Inside, the room was quiet. Three folding chairs. One legendary figure.
Sir Alex Ferguson sat behind a desk, flipping through notes. His eyes, sharp and assessing, lifted.
"Marshall. Sit."
Alex sat, back straight, mouth dry.
"You've got a spark," Sir Alex said simply. "Bit raw. Bit cocky. But I like that."
Alex blinked. "Thank you, sir."
"Don't thank me yet," Sir Alex growled. "One week. That's all you've got. Show me something in this weekend's U21 friendly. Or you're back to the bench."
[Main Quest Unlocked: "Seize the Spotlight"]Objective: Score or Assist in U21 Friendly vs. Bolton AcademyTime Limit: 3 DaysReward: +5 Attribute Points, "Clutch Finisher" Skill
Sir Alex stood.
"One week, Marshall. Make it count."
Outside, Alex exhaled slowly.
The journey had begun.Again.
But this time, he had knowledge. He had heart. He had the System.
And he had something to prove.
To the world.To Sir Alex.To himself.