Chapter 10: Coaches and Players
Joshua Smith walked onto the training ground with his coaching staff, his footsteps steady, his expression calm—but inside, his blood was already boiling.
Today, the coaching team has officially expanded.
Standing behind him were two new faces.
One was goalkeeper coach Danny King, a quiet but experienced specialist who had formerly worked in English lower leagues.
The other was the team doctor Joshua had personally recruited—Haruko Sakuragi.
Even now, Joshua still found it surprising.
When he called her, he had prepared an entire speech—about rebuilding a club, about opportunity, about vision.
But before he could even finish his second sentence, she had said:
"I'll come."
Clean. Direct. No hesitation.
It caught him completely off guard.
Still… no matter the reason, the current five-man coaching staff was finally taking shape.
Joshua already had plans.
A tactical analyst, a data scout, maybe even a chief of scouting—he would build a complete modern system around the club.
But for now…
This was enough.
The players had already gathered.
Seeing the coaches arrive, they quickly formed a circle.
The coaching staff stood in the center.
Joshua's gaze swept across the players.
This…
…was his first real team.
Not youth players.
Not prospects.
A real, struggling, professional squad on the edge of collapse.
The first step of everything.
If he wanted to rise in this world—
This season would decide everything.
A faint light flickered in his pupils.
Joshua hesitated for a moment.
Then—
He activated it.
Eye of Insight.
The world changed.
Above several players' heads, faint translucent numbers began to appear.
Blurry at first.
Then clearer.
Kevin Keane (Captain)
Passing: 74
Positioning: 76
Leadership: 82
Stamina: 70
Joshua's eyes sharpened slightly.
As expected… championship-level player.
Reliable.
Balanced.
A pillar.
He shifted his gaze.
George Parker (CB)
Tackling: 71
Strength: 75
Aerial: 73
Composure: 66
Solid… but limited ceiling.
Another glance—
Sam Parker (Forward)
Finishing: 69
Positioning: 65
Work Rate: 52
Mentality: 48
Joshua's eyes dimmed slightly.
Low work rate… weak mentality.
Trouble.
The system's cooldown ticked silently in his mind.
[Wisdom Eye cooldown: 23:58:41]
Joshua exhaled softly.
Only one full activation per day.
He had to use it wisely.
He looked up.
Now—
Reality returned.
The players were also watching him.
And honestly…
They were disappointed.
Too young.
Way too young.
At 27, Joshua was younger than some of them.
Standing there, he didn't look like a commanding manager.
He looked like…
One of them.
Joshua didn't care.
He opened his mouth.
"Many people say we're getting relegated this season."
Silence.
Instant silence.
Even Kevin Keane froze slightly.
"I agree."
The sentence struck with a forceful impact.
The players' expressions changed immediately.
Some are frustrated.
Some were shocked.
Some disbelieving.
This man… dares to say that to our faces?!
Joshua spread his hands calmly.
"Before I saw your eyes just now… I believed it."
He paused.
Then his gaze sharpened.
"But now?"
"I'm not so sure anymore."
The players looked up.
"No one here wants to be relegated."
Joshua's voice was steady.
"So starting today…"
"We work."
He stepped forward.
"We were deducted 30 points."
"No, let's say it clearly."
"We start the season at minus thirty."
Murmurs spread.
"To survive relegation, we usually need about 46 points."
He raised a finger.
"That means we need…"
"76 points."
Silence.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
Joshua's voice pierced through the silence.
"That's not a relegation battle."
"That's a promotion campaign."
The players' breathing slowed.
"If we reach promotion-level points…"
"We survive."
No shouting.
No theatrics.
Just simple logic.
But it hit harder than any speech.
Joshua looked at them one by one.
"From today onward everything resets."
"I don't care who was a starter."
"I don't care who was on the bench."
"I don't care if you came from the youth team."
"There is only one rule."
"Attitude."
"Train hard."
"Play hard."
"Prove it."
"Slack off?"
"The bench is there."
"And if that's not enough…"
He paused slightly.
"I can always send you to the reserves."
Sam Parker snorted quietly.
Clearly unconvinced.
Joshua noticed.
But ignored him.
Instead, he turned his attention to the group.
Most of the young players—
Their eyes were shining.
For them…
This was opportunity.
"Now," Joshua clapped his hands once.
"Pre-season starts today."
"First step, fitness testing."
Groans immediately followed.
Joshua's expression didn't change.
"If you haven't maintained your condition…"
"Don't bother stepping onto my training pitch."
That ended the complaints instantly.
Soon—
The players moved toward the medical center.
And then—
Everything changed.
Because standing inside—
Was Haruko Sakuragi.
Soft face.
Gentle expression.
Professional attire.
But—
Very noticeable presence.
The players froze.
Then instantly straightened up.
Fatigue?
Gone.
Complaints?
Gone.
Energy?
100%.
Joshua blinked.
Then he shook his head slightly.
Unexpected morale boost…
Pre-season training officially began.
Physical conditioning.
Endurance.
Recovery.
Structure.
Joshua stood at the edge of the pitch, watching.
Inside his mind—
The blueprint was already complete.
Kanté, Drinkwater, Vardy, and Austin.
The spine of a future miracle.
He clenched his fist slightly.
In another timeline—
This core had shocked the world.
Under Claudio Ranieri, they achieved the impossible.
Won the Premier League.
But now?
That miracle…
Would belong to him.
Joshua Smith smiled faintly.
"Let's begin…"
(End of Chapter 10)
Check out my Patreon for Advance Chapters
patreon.com/BIGBRAINJOSHUA