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]

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As Tristan watched Greening being examined by the team doctor, the Nottingham Forest players surged toward the referee, their voices a cacophony of indignation.

"That kid definitely did it on purpose!" one player shouted, pointing an accusatory finger at Tristan.

"This is a malicious attack!" another added, his voice rising with anger.

In the face of their accusations, Tristan maintained an innocent demeanor, spreading his hands in a gesture of feigned confusion. "Sorry, it was unintentional. I wanted to pass the ball, but he blocked my route," he explained, his voice steady and sincere.

The referee was 100% sure this was retribution for the fouls and rough treatment Tristan has been under since the start of the whole game; however, Greening was indeed in the route of the pass, but everyone knows this kid's passing skills and accuracy were exceptional. Still, he had no concrete evidence to suggest maliance. And if he did eject Tristan, he was sure that game would get out of control with his job on the line.

In the world of professional football, unpredictable incidents were par for the course. Players often found themselves on the receiving end of a hard hit from the ball, whether to the face or other sensitive areas. As long as the action lacked clear malicious intent, it typically did not warrant a foul.

Meanwhile, after a thorough examination, the team doctor concluded that Greening might have suffered a mild concussion. To ensure the player's safety, the medical team decided he must be substituted for further evaluation.

On the sidelines, Nottingham Forest's head coach, Billy Davies, felt the weight of the situation pressing on him. Frustrated, he turned and waved to the substitute midfielder on the bench, signaling him to warm up quickly. The urgency of the moment was palpable, and he knew he needed to regroup his team while keeping the pressure on the referee.

Finally, Nottingham Forest was forced to use a substitution just fifteen minutes into the first half. Their main midfielder, Greening, was replaced by a substitute due to the earlier incident. The game was interrupted for nearly seven or eight minutes before play resumed.

Tristan's kick not only allowed him to vent his anger but also brought an unexpected advantage. The shocking fate of Greening seemed to intimidate the Nottingham Forest players. They no longer dared to commit rough fouls against Tristan, opting instead to guard him closely and prevent him from turning easily.

While the Forest players were less aggressive, the home crowd wasn't so forgiving. Every time Tristan touched the ball, a chorus of boos echoed throughout the City Stadium. However, these tactics could not limit his performance.

Tristan and Mahrez executed a beautiful one-two combination on the right side, easily bypassing Forest's left-back, Fox. The commentator exclaimed, "What a move! Leicester City played a stunning combination on the right, with Mahrez driving into the heart of the Forest defense."

Mahrez, gliding past defenders, moved quickly down the right side while Vardy and Nugent positioned themselves to attack Nottingham Forest's defense from the left. Tristan lingered in the middle, ready to provide support alongside Marty James behind him. This was one of Pearson's tactical routines: when Mahrez launched an attack, Tristan and Drinkwater would follow closely, looking for a chance for a reverse triangle shot or a long-range effort. Meanwhile, the other midfielder stayed back to prevent counterattacks.

Mahrez dribbled the ball to the right edge of the penalty area, scanning for options. He glanced to the left before decisively knocking the ball across the middle with his right foot.

"Mahrez passes the ball!" The commentary shouted.

The ball zipped swiftly along the grass toward the penalty spot. Everyone expected Mahrez to pass forward to Vardy or Nugent, causing all the Forest players to converge in the penalty area, focused solely on them.

However, they neglected the back point of the inverted triangle!

As the ball flew toward the penalty area, a blue figure surged forward, catching everyone by surprise. "Tristan!"

In an instant, the Forest players were wide-eyed with disbelief, but it was too late for them to intervene. Captain Collins instinctively put his hands behind his back and lunged forward, hoping to block the shot with his body.

But instead of a powerful volley, Tristan skillfully pushed the ball with precision! The low shot skimmed along the grass, passing neatly through Collins' legs and heading straight for the lower right corner of the goal.

Due to the crowded penalty area, the young Forest goalkeeper, Carl Darlow, couldn't see Tristan's shooting motion or the direction of the ball until it was too late. As the ball slipped past him, he instinctively dove sideways, but his efforts came too late.

The ball struck the right goalpost before nestling into the net.

"GOAL~~~"

"He did it!"

"Leicester City takes the lead at the City Stadium!"

"The scorer is No. 22, Tristan Hale!"

With the Fox fans erupting in cheers and applause, Tristan, having scored the goal, didn't rush toward the away supporters. Instead, he turned to the home crowd and executed a provocative celebration: he raised his right hand, extended his index finger to his lips, and shot a challenging look at the bewildered Forest fans.

Tristan's provocative celebration instantly infuriated the Forest fans in the City Stadium! The sea of red in the stands erupted with emotion, responding in various ways:

Watching Tristan and the other Leicester City players, the Forest fans felt a mixture of confusion and anger. They hadn't anticipated such a strong reaction from Tristan, who was usually known for his gentleness and friendliness. But really, what was wrong with scoring a goal in the heart of the enemy's territory and telling those fans to be quiet? This boy was showing real grit!

Vardy and the others rushed to Tristan's side, surrounding him in a jubilant embrace. Among them, captain Morgan sprinted from the back line, wrapping his arms around Tristan's neck and gently forcing his hands down. As he pulled Tristan back, the captain whispered, "Come on, don't provoke them like this!"

Tristan understood that Morgan was looking out for him. He didn't resist, letting his teammates support him as they made their way back to their own half.

However, just moments later, Tristan heard the referee calling his name. Turning around, he saw the official approaching with a yellow card raised in his hand.

"This is a penalty for provoking the fans. I don't want to see this again," the referee warned.

Tristan had prepared himself for this possibility, knowing that his gesture might cost him. He simply nodded in acknowledgment, accepting the consequences.

Meanwhile, in the coaching booth, Pearson couldn't help but raise a hand to his forehead in exasperation upon seeing Tristan receive the first yellow card of his career for taunting the fans. "This kid is truly a handful!" he exclaimed.

Steve Walsh, standing nearby, chuckled and said, "It's normal for young people to be full of energy."

But Pearson's frown remained. As the head coach, he felt responsible for guiding this young talent down the right path. Despite Tristan's age, his performance on and off the field was beyond his years, and Pearson hoped he could continue to develop into a world-class player.

"There's no need to rile up the fans after scoring. It just puts you in a dangerous situation. Plus, he got a yellow card—totally unnecessary."

"We'll need to talk to him about this when we get back to Belvoir."

Walsh was used to Pearson's serious demeanor and simply smiled, acknowledging the head coach's perspective. In professional football, while there were many gifted players, finding a good coach to nurture that talent was rare.

For Pearson, Tristan was his prized horse.

As the Forest fans processed Tristan's yellow card, the noise in the City Stadium gradually subsided. Despite their anger and frustration, they couldn't change the score.

The Nottingham Forest players felt more helpless than outraged. They had tried to contain Tristan's influence since the opening whistle. Initially, they thought he was an easy target, following the coach's tactical plans and resorting to rough play. But instead of being intimidated, Tristan had responded with scoring a goal himself.

They had underestimated this young man, who they thought was only becoming famous for his looks and had proven he was not to be trifled with in this derby.

The game resumed, and with their backs against the wall, Nottingham Forest ramped up their high-pressure tactics, committing numerous fouls to disrupt Leicester City's rhythm and create a fragmented game. This tactic led to several fouls against Vardy, Nugent, and Mahrez.

Although these fouls occasionally halted Leicester City's advances, they also granted the team numerous set-piece opportunities.

In the 38th minute, Leicester City earned a free kick in a prime location just outside the penalty area on the right side of Forest's half. Tristan stepped up to take it.

"This is Leicester City's moment!" the commentator announced. "The ball is about 32 meters from the goal. Tristan, a right-footed shooter, likely won't take a direct shot."

As the referee blew the whistle, Tristan struck the ball with a powerful kick, using the inside of his foot to curl it.

In perfect synchrony, the Leicester City players in blue charged into the penalty area. Vardy moved to the front, Nugent to the back, while the two towering central defenders, Morgan and Wasilewski, positioned themselves centrally.

The ball, arcing beautifully through the air, landed near the penalty spot. Captain Morgan, a commanding presence in the crowd, seized the moment, leaping up to meet the ball.

With a resounding "bang," his forehead connected with the ball, redirecting it toward the upper right corner of the goal.

The 1.9-meter tall goalkeeper, Karl Darlow, instinctively dove, extending his right arm. He barely grazed the ball with his fingertips, but it slipped past him into the net.

"Morgan!"

"A header goal!"

The next instant, Fox fans in the stadium and in front of their TVs erupted in jubilation!

With Morgan's goal, Leicester City was now two goals ahead of Nottingham Forest in the first half. The disparity in skill left the home fans at the City Stadium feeling desperate and confused.

They hadn't expected that, in just three months, the Leicester City team that had lost 2-0 at home would transform into such a formidable side!

Their focus soon shifted to the young man on the field. It was all because of No. 22!

Last time, when they defeated Leicester City, this kid hadn't even started and wasn't on the first-team roster. But now, starting the game, he had contributed both a pass and a goal.

Rather than losing to Leicester City, it felt more accurate to say they had lost to Tristan!

With a two-goal lead heading into halftime, the Leicester City players were relaxed and confident. After a short break, the second half kicked off.

Already two goals behind, Nottingham Forest abandoned their conservative approach and pushed forward, desperate to score a consolation goal.

However, Leicester City thrived under pressure. With the opposing team pressing forward, their defense inevitably became vulnerable!

"Drinkwater takes the ball, long pass!"

"Vardy races with Collins!"

"He's in the box!"

"Shoot!"

"Goal~~~!"

With Vardy breaking into the penalty area and shooting the ball into the goal, the scoreline expanded to 3-0. This East Midlands derby had already lost its suspense. The moment the ball hit the back of the net, the air seemed to deflate from Nottingham Forest's players. Heads hung low. It was over.

The game had only reached the 60th minute.

Sitting on the sideline Pearson seen enough. The game was won, no point in risking injuries or tempers flaring. And with such a commanding lead, why not take the opportunity to test out some defensive formations? After all, with Leicester's inevitable promotion to the Premier League looming closer, Pearson knew that most of their battles next season would be against star-studded giants. Defensive resilience would be key.

Leicester City had nothing more to prove today.

The next time the ball went out of play, Pearson made his move. He quickly used all three substitutions, taking off the star trio that had dismantled Nottingham Forest's defense: Tristan, Vardy, and Mahrez. Each of them had played their part in creating Leicester's dominance, and now it was time to bring in fresh legs.

As the second half kicked off, Nottingham Forest, under the determined leadership of head coach Billy Davis, began to press and attack frantically. The atmosphere in the stadium shifted, the home crowd igniting a new fire in their team. With a palpable sense of urgency, the red-clad players surged forward, eager to reclaim some semblance of dignity on their home turf.

Without Tristan in the midfield, Leicester City found their passing and controlTristan tactics faltering. He had been the linchpin, the stabilizing force that held their game together. Now, with him substituted, the rhythm shifted, and for the first time, Nottingham Forest seized control of the match. They swarmed like waves, their red jerseys a relentless tide crashing against Leicester City's blue defense, which was beginning to wobble under the pressure.

Tristan watched from the sidelines, his heart racing as he saw his teammates struggle to adapt. "Come on, lads! Hold it together!" he urged silently, hoping his presence on the bench could somehow galvanize them. The crowd, once electrified by Leicester's dominance, began to murmur with unease. Nottingham Forest's momentum was undeniable, and they were hungry for a goal to salvage their pride.

But at the heart of Leicester City's defense stood a resolute Kasper Schmeichel, who turned into a wall of determination. The goalkeeper made several spectacular saves, diving sideways and executing high tackles that thwarted Nottingham's threatening shots. With each stop, Schmeichel roared in defiance, drawing cheers from the visiting fans and instilTristan a sense of resilience among his teammates.

The minutes ticked by, and the tension in the stadium mounted. Nottingham Forest threw everything they had at Leicester City, their attacks becoming increasingly desperate. The red waves continued to crash against the blue ship, threatening to capsize it. But Schmeichel's performance was nothing short of heroic; he parried shots that seemed destined for the net, keeping Leicester's clean sheet intact.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the referee's long whistle echoed through the stadium, signaling the end of the match. The scoreboard glared back at the crowd: 3-0. Nottingham Forest had suffered a bitter defeat on their home ground; the cheers from Leicester's fans filled the air like sweet music.

Leicester City celebrated their victory, a record-breaking 11 consecutive league wins, surpassing Reading's previous record of ten set in the 2005-2006 season. This historic feat prompted the media to spring into action, already having prepared press releases for either scenario. But with Leicester's triumph sealed, only one story mattered, and it flooded social media feeds with praise and excitement.

Among the jubilant celebrations, Tristan's remarkable performance shone through. He had once again been instrumental, contributing one goal and one assist to the match, securing his sixth Championship Man of the Match award.

Yet, in the midst of the euphoria, two system prompts rang out in his mind, cutting through the noise of the celebration:

[Ding Dong!]

[Achievement "Championship Winning Streak Record" achieved]

[Achievement evaluation: A]

[Achievement Reward: Two Free Attribute Points]

[Ding Dong!]

[Achievement "First Yellow Card in Career" achieved]

[Achievement evaluation: A]

[Achievement Reward: One Free Attribute Point]

"So, I can stack my rewards!" he thought, excitement coursing through him. Personal statistics and team victories—he didn't have to choose between them anymore. "I want them all!"

The locker room buzzed with energy as teammates exchanged high-fives and congratulated each other, but the atmosphere was also tinged with a sense of professionalism, knowing that they had work to do in the upcoming weeks.

Tristan, having played an instrumental role in the victory with one goal and two assists, felt a surge of pride as he prepared for the post-game interview. His performance had earned him a game rating of 8.5, a testament to his ability to dictate the pace of the match despite enduring some tough tackles and fouls from the opposition.

Tristan steeled himself before he headed to the press conference, aware that the spotlight would be on him once again.

"Tristan, congratulations on another Man of the Match performance! How did it feel to contribute with a goal and two assists today in your first derby?" one reporter asked, notebook in hand.

"It feels great to help the team win," Tristan replied, a smile breaking through. "We played well as a unit, and I just tried to do my part. It was a tough time, but we won, and thank God none of us were injured.

Another reporter chimed in, "You faced quite a few hard tackles today, especially from Greening. How did you handle those challenges? And did you kick the ball to his face on purpose as a form of revenge for all the hard tackles he did?"

Tristan faked a look of innoncne on his face before answering the question, "Look, football is a physical game. I'll admit it got heated out there, but I'd never intentionally hurt a fellow player. It's all part of the game. Like I told the ref, he was just in the way of my passing route, I hope he gets better, and I hope to see him in the field, son." He chose his words carefully, knowing how quickly rumors could spiral.

Did he regret kicking that ball to Greening's face? Hell no, that tackle he was doing if landed could have injured him and ruined his whole career before it even started. He already failed in his first life, he wasn't going to let that happen a second time. He also did the kick as a warning to others, he will retaliate hard.

A third reporter pressed on, "Your statistics show you completed 85% of your passes and created multiple scoring opportunities. What's your mindset when you're on the pitch, especially during a match as physical as today's?"

"My focus is always on keeping the ball moving and creating chances for my teammates. It's important to stay calm and composed, even when the game gets intense," he explained, recalling the rough tackles he had absorbed throughout the match. "Every match is different, and you have to adapt to how the opponents play."

The questions continued, each one probing deeper into his strategy and mindset during the game.

An reporter finally asked a question he was dying to answer: " What did you think about the referring during this game? Multiples of you and your teammates questioned the referees choices at time when it came to Nottingham Forest players not getting any cards."

Tristan didn't say anything for a few seconds, before answering in a serious tone, "If I speak the honest truth and what I think, I will be in big trouble, so I won't say anything." Taking inspiration from the school of Jose Mourinho.

"Tristan, final question—what does this victory mean for the team moving forward, especially as you continue your chase for the Championship title?" a reporter asked, eager for a final insight.

"Every win is crucial for us, especially as we push to secure our place in the Premier League. We're building momentum, and today's performance is a step in the right direction," he replied, his confidence palpable.

After the game, the players of Leicester City, who had just set a new record for consecutive wins in the Championship, gathered for a group photo in the away locker room of the City Stadium. The atmosphere was electric, and their smiles were wide as they captured a moment that would be cherished for years to come.

As Tristan settled into a seat on the team bus heading home, the adrenaline from the match still coursed through him. His emotions were a whirlwind—he felt exhilarated, proud, and incredibly fortunate.

After his rebirth, he had not only become a professional player but had also broken records with Leicester City, leaving his mark on world football. It was surreal to think about.

In his eyes, it was no surprise that Leicester City had achieved such a remarkable winning streak. The squad was top-notch, filled with talents capable of making their mark in the Premier League. Stars like Vardy, Mahrez, and Schmeichel were not just capable players; they were game-changers, and alongside core contributors like Drinkwater, Chris Wood, and Jeffrey Schlupp, the team was formidable.

Even without him, the Foxes would likely become only the second Championship team in history to win the title with 100 points at the end of the season. But what thrilled him even more was the fact that he was now part of this incredible team.

Football is a team sport, he reminded himself. Success is not solely the result of the players on the pitch or the coaches calling the shots. It takes the entire club—owners, management, and support staff—working tirelessly toward a common goal.

While everyone seemed to be praising him, even hailing him as a hero, Tristan remained grounded. He never believed he was the main contributor to Leicester City's success. He saw himself as a vital piece of a larger puzzle, a catalyst that could help propel the team to greater heights.

His presence made it easier for Leicester City to dominate the Championship, and now, as they prepared for their inevitable promotion to the Premier League, he knew that a new challenge awaited. There, amidst many powerful teams, his true test would come.

When the time came for Leicester City to rely on him, to lead the team to victory, that would be the moment he could finally consider himself an indispensable core of the club. Until then, he was just happy to be part of this journey, riding the wave of success with his teammates.