England's Greatest

[Drop some powers, leave a comment or review if you want and enjoy the chapter, trying to hit 250 power stones this week.]

...

Two hours before the game, Leicester City's team bus arrived in Nottingham. As Tristan sat on the bus, even with his headphones playing music, he could hardly drown out the noise outside the window.

 Looking out, he saw many fans in red jerseys, waving flags and scarves shouting and screaming.

Tristan chuckled at the enthusiastic reception. Well, the passion was as expected! He wondered if the Forest fans would still be this spirited after the game.

"Hey Tristan,!" shouted Jamie Vardy from the back of the bus, a grin on his face. "You better not get too nervous for this one. It's just a derby—no big deal, right?"

Tristan turned to face Vardy, rolling his eyes but smiling nonetheless. "Yeah, because playing against your arch-rivals is always a walk in the park!"

Another player, Marc Albrighton, chimed in, leaning forward from his seat. "Don't worry, starboy! Just remember to shine out there like you always do. Just try not to trip over your own ego this time!"

Laughter erupted in the bus, and Tristan chuckled, not taking the banter to heart.

"Seriously, though," Albrighton continued, "If those Forest fans give you any grief, just remember you're the one they're scared of now. You've got the magic touch!"

"Right? They're just jealous of your good looks and killer skills," said Ben Chilwell, elbowing Tristan playfully. "We're all counting on you to be our secret weapon today."

Riyad Mahrez, who sat nearby, leaned back and smiled at Tristan, his presence a calming influence. "Listen, mate, just enjoy the game. You've worked hard to get here, and you belong in that spotlight. Play your game, and don't let anyone get to you. Just focus on what you do best."

Tristan felt a rush of gratitude for Mahrez's support. "Thanks, Riyad. Appreciate it unlike those other folks."

"Yeah, just don't forget to dazzle them with that pretty face while you're scoring goals," Vardy interjected with a smirk. "We need those headlines about our star midfielder!"

Tristan laughed, shaking his head.

The banter continued as the bus parked.

The players were mainly teasing Tristan to get rid of any nerves if he had any. But from what Tristan showed in the last ten games, he didn't fear anyone. They just did it for the sake for fun and just incase he was feeling under the weather.

Under the warm welcome from the Forest fans, the team bus slowly drove into the parking lot of the City Stadium. The players quickly exited and entered the visiting team's locker room. As soon as he put down his backpack, Tristan was called out of the locker room by the assistant coach.

Once outside the locker room, head coach Pearson said, "Tristan, you and I will go to the press conference."

Hearing this, Tristan was stunned. "Me? A press conference?"

"Yes, it's you."

Normally, the head coach and team captain attend the pre-match press conference together, but sometimes core players are included. A month ago, Pearson believed young players like Tristan would lose themselves if exposed to the media too early. Now, Pearson had changed his mind, seeing that the media attention around Tristan had grown too significant to ignore.

In the past few days, the media has hyped the importance of this game. After Tristan's perfect performance in the last match, the English media was eager to capture the new star. In the two FA Cup matches against Premier League teams, if it weren't for Tristan's goals and assists under immense pressure, the team would have faced elimination. 

Remarkably, even while being closely guarded in almost every game, Tristan lost possession less than five times per match. Now the media didn't even doubt Tristan's ability to handle the ball under pressure. Moreover, his impressive stats were a testament to his skills: in his first seven league games since being promoted to the first team, he had contributed an amazing three goals and seven assists.

"Just do what you did in the post-match interview later. Don't be nervous," Pearson reassured him. "If you face a tricky question, kick my foot, and I'll jump in."

Tristan blinked at the coach's kindness and smiled. "No problem, coach. I'll perform well."

The two made their way to the press room. When the reporters saw Tristan following Pearson, they began clicking their cameras frantically, filling the room with flashing lights. Almost blinded, Tristan shielded his eyes with his hands as he sat down next to Pearson.

The press conference began with the press officer leading the proceedings. After some standard questions directed at the coaches, a BBC sports reporter asked Tristan a somewhat professional question:

"A question from the BBC. Tristan, this is your seventh league game since your promotion to the first team. In those seven games, you've contributed an impressive three goals and seven assists. Your assist count has placed you in the top ten of the assists list. However, I've noticed your average number of shots per game is quite low. Does this mean you are primarily an assist player focused on passing, or is this a tactic from the coach?"

Pearson had granted Tristan considerable tactical freedom. In addition to allowing two midfielders to support him, he encouraged Tristan to move forward more often, responding to crosses and inverted triangles from both sides.

After some thought, Tristan replied, "As a midfielder, my primary job isn't to score; it's to create chances for my mates. But I don't think my scoring ability is low. In ten games, I've scored around eight goals. Not bad for a midfielder, if I do say so myself, right?"

He enjoyed setting up assists, not because he couldn't shoot, but because he wanted to capitalize on the best scoring opportunities. With his stats increasing, he planned to become more aggressive in front of goal.

"When the opportunity comes, I won't hesitate!" he added.

While some shooting skills depend on talent, others are honed through training and experience. With the system, Tristan saw limitless potential ahead. Improving his shooting skills to reach Vardy's level wouldn't happen overnight, so he aimed to use his passing to create threats and goals for the team, leading to victories.

As an attacking player, his passing skills were already maximized so he needed to focus on other parts of his game.

What Pearson had feared did not materialize. Facing the reporters, Tristan handled the questions with the same calm confidence he displayed on the field. Most young people his age were wrapped up in adolescence, but Tristan was remarkably composed, leaving a positive impression on the reporters.

One reporter from The Sun asked, "Tristan, you've received a lot of comments regarding your looks since your debut. How do you feel about that?"

Tristan laughed a little at the question, he's gotten used to it, too bad it didn't help in playing football. "Of course, people mention it. My mom always tells me not to become a playboy, or she'd make me go bald. That's why I'm still single," he replied with a laugh.

"Honestly, I'm happy when people talk about it. If my career doesn't pan out, I might consider modeling; I've heard that a lot. I have to my mom for giving me these looks!"

As the press conference continued, a reporter from the Guardian raised his hand, eager to get a word in. "Tristan, there have been rumors linking you to a potential transfer to bigger clubs, especially Arsenal, who have expressed interest in your talents. How do you feel about those rumors, and do you see yourself playing for a club of that stature in the future?"

Tristan paused, considering his response carefully. "I appreciate the interest from clubs like Arsenal; it's flattering, of course. But right now, my focus is solely on Leicester City. I'm committed to helping the team get promoted to the Premier League. That's my main goal."

The room fell silent for a moment as the reporters scribbled down his words. Then another reporter chimed in. "But what about the future? Players often want to advance their careers. Could you see yourself moving to a top club in the Premier League down the line?"

Tristan smiled, maintaining his composure. "I can't predict the future. Anything can happen in football, but my loyalty is here with Leicester."

A reporter from the Sun jumped in, clearly wanting to get a bit more out of Tristan. "So you're saying you would turn down a dream move to a club like Arsenal for the sake of loyalty to Leicester? That's quite a statement!"

Tristan chuckled, feeling the intensity of the moment. "I wouldn't call it a dream move just yet. Right now, my dream is to help my current club achieve its goals. Loyalty means a lot to me, and I want to be part of something special here. The Premier League is where we belong, and I want to be there with Leicester."

Another reporter added, "Tristan, given your current performance and the interest from clubs like Arsenal, where do you see yourself in the next few years? Are there specific goals you're aiming to achieve personally or with the team?"

Tristan took a breath, considering how to answer. "I see myself developing further here, learning from the experienced players around me, and hopefully contributing to a successful promotion campaign. Personally, I want to be a key player for Leicester and eventually break into the Premier League and compete at the highest level."

"How do you handle the pressure that comes with being linked to bigger clubs? Does it impact your performance on the pitch, or do you find it motivating?" another reporter pressed.

"It can be a bit of a double-edged sword," Tristan replied thoughtfully. "On one hand, it's great to have that recognition. But on the other, it can create expectations. I try to focus on my game and not let external noise affect me. It's motivating in a way, pushing me to prove myself every match."

"What does it look like for you personally to help Leicester get promoted to the Premier League?" someone asked, shifting the conversation back to his current club.

Tristan's eyes brightened. "It means everything to me. I want to contribute to the team and be a part of the history we can create together. I know we have the talent, and if we stick together and work hard, I believe we can achieve it."

"Are there players at Leicester City or in the Premier League who you look up to or model your game after when thinking about your future?"

Tristan nodded. "Absolutely. I admire players like Kaka, Beckham and Iniesta for their vision and creativity. But I also have a lot of respect for Jamie Vardy. His work ethic is incredible, and I try to incorporate that into my game."

The questions kept coming, each one revealing more about Tristan's ambitions and thoughts since his debut.

As they left the room, Pearson clapped him on the back. "Well done, lad. You handled yourself like a pro."

Of course he had to handle it like a pro, not to mention it was his first his first press conference before a game, and he didn't want to come off as immature to the public. He knows how important PR is to a player looking at Bellingham and Vinicius. He wants the media on his side not against him.

Notably, attending the pre-match press conference allowed him to achieve a new milestone and earn some free attribute points as a reward. With the one point he had left unused, Tristan now had two free attribute points.

Without hesitation, he allocated both points to [Burst] and was more ready than to face the derby.

.....

[Thank you guys for your concern, I appericate it. I should be back to normal soon, hopefully.]