After Paris Saint-Germain was removed from the list, I led England to victory!

A new day begins. At the Kearney training ground in the early morning, the mist has not yet completely dissipated, and glistening dewdrops hang on the tips of the grass.

The air was filled with the fresh scent of earth and trimmed grass.

The base gates have just opened.

At this moment, Yan Yuan had already appeared on the training field with his sports backpack.

He was wearing a new Arsenal training jacket for the new season, zipped up to his chest, revealing a white training T-shirt underneath.

Despite having just won the Golden Boot at the World Cup, which boosted his value to 3 million euros and made him the team's undisputed highest-paid player, he showed no arrogance on his face. His eyes were calm and focused, giving the impression that he had just returned from an ordinary vacation.

Yan Yuan is still the same Yan Yuan in Hoffenheim; his early fame has not broken his original habits.

He habitually took a deep breath of the cool morning air and was about to head to the locker room when another figure arrived almost at the same time.

A slightly thin but light and agile black teenager got out of an ordinary family car, carrying a sports bag in his hand.

He looked very young, with a hint of childishness on his face, but his eyes were bright, full of anticipation for the future and a subtle tension.

The young man's name is Bukayo Saka.

At just 17 years old, Arsenal's youth academy prodigy has shown amazing talent in the youth team and has been officially promoted to the first team by Professor Wenger in the new season.

He clearly recognized Yan Yuan, the rising star who had just shone at the World Cup and was now the top player for both his club and national team.

Yan Yuan is now an idol for youth players worldwide, and he is also Saka's idol.

Upon seeing his idol, Saka's eyes lit up instantly, filled with obvious excitement and a hint of nervousness, as he quickly stepped forward.

"Hi! Yan... Brother Yan?" Saka's voice was slightly tentative, his tone both respectful and friendly, like that of a peer. "I'm Bukayo Saka, I was just promoted by the professor this season. I... I watched your World Cup match, it was amazing! Really!"

Yan Yuan stopped, a gentle smile appearing on his face. He extended his hand:

"Hello, Bukayo, I'm only a year older than you, just call me Yan. I know you, the youth team star. The coach has mentioned you to me many times, saying you have a lot of talent. Welcome to the first team!"

Yan Yuan's tone was sincere and approachable, without the slightest hint of arrogance.

Saka quickly grasped Yan Yuan's hand, a bright smile spreading across his face, his nervousness easing considerably: "Thank you, Yan, I'll train hard! I hope to learn more from you!"

"Let's learn from each other." Yan Yuan smiled and patted him on the shoulder. "Let's cheer each other on for Arsenal." The simple greeting instantly shortened the distance between the two.

The two walked side by side toward the locker room, chatting about the weather in London and the environment of the training base, creating a relaxed and harmonious atmosphere.

As time went on, Kearney base gradually became more lively.

Professor Wenger, dressed in his signature suit, was the first to appear at the edge of the training field, holding a tactics board and deep in thought.

Following that, the veteran players and new reinforcements arrived one after another.

The atmosphere in the locker room was both familiar and fresh.

The veteran team members greeted each other and joked around.

Aubameyang's signature smile and exaggerated gestures always drew laughter, while Lacazette was relatively calm, talking quietly with Ramsey. Monreal, Bellerin, and others also arrived one after another.

The new faces carried the excitement of their first arrival, along with a touch of nervousness.

The tall, composed Spanish defensive midfielder Rodri quietly tidied his equipment.

Norwegian midfield prodigy Martin Ødegaard greeted his teammates with a humble smile.

James Maddison, the English starlet who transferred from Norwich City, was more active, taking the initiative to chat with Ramsey and others;

Two strong reinforcements have been added to the flanks: Portuguese winger João Cancelo, who joined from Valencia, and Moroccan speedster Achraf Hakimi, who is on loan from Real Madrid. Veteran Pepe has also also made an appearance.

Cancelo's expression carried his usual arrogance and confidence, while Ashraf appeared more reserved.

The newly promoted goalkeeper, Damian Martinez (Big Martin), sat quietly in the corner, his eyes filled with anticipation for his new environment.

He just returned from Getafe and hasn't played for Arsenal's first team yet, so he's definitely not used to it yet.

When Professor Wenger saw that most of the people had arrived, he clapped his hands and gathered everyone in the center of the training field.

"Gentlemen, welcome back, and welcome to our new colleagues!" The professor's voice was gentle yet firm.

"The new season is about to begin, and we welcome a lot of fresh blood, as well as new challenges and goals."

The professor glanced around at the crowd, his gaze lingering briefly on the new faces like Yan Yuan, Saka, and Rodri.

"To help everyone get to know each other more quickly and build rapport, let's start with a brief self-introduction session. I'll begin with Arsène Wenger, your head coach."

He shrugged humorously, eliciting a soft laugh.

Next, the veteran players took the lead, followed closely by the new recruits, and each of them briefly introduced themselves by name, position, and nationality.

The atmosphere was relaxed and friendly, and the initial sense of unfamiliarity gradually melted away amidst laughter and applause.

After the self-introductions, Professor Wenger immediately got to the point. "Alright, gentlemen, after the warm-up, we'll have an intra-squad scrimmage. The groups are as follows:" He picked up the tactical board, "Group A (red vests): Saka (left winger), Odegaard (attacking midfielder), Yan Yuan (right winger), Rodri (defensive midfielder), Ramsey (defensive midfielder), Cancelo (left back), Ashraf (right back), Martin (goalkeeper)."

The professor's intention in this grouping is very clear.

He put most of the new signings and young players together, especially the young wing combination of Saka, Yan Yuan, Cancelo, and Ashraf on the same side, along with the technically gifted Odegaard and the steady Rodri and Ramsey.

The goal is to allow these newly joined, highly anticipated players to integrate as quickly as possible.

In particular, a smooth offensive system was created around Yan Yuan as the absolute core.

"Group B (Yellow Vests): Aubameyang (Center Forward), Lacazette (Second Striker/Winger)..."

Group B is composed mainly of veteran players, who are experienced and have excellent teamwork.

The competition begins.

Group A, with Ødegaard orchestrating the play and Rodri providing cover, displayed excellent ball control.

Yan Yuan and Ashraf on the right wing displayed amazing teamwork.

Achraf's speed and impact created space for Yan Yuan, who was able to cut inside and shoot or play one-two passes with Achraf with ease, creating threats with his breakthroughs.

The situation on the left flank is somewhat different.

Saka, a 17-year-old who had just been promoted, was partnering with Cancelo for the first time in such a high-intensity intra-team competition.

Cancelo is technically gifted and has a strong desire to assist, but he plays a rather selfish style and has an impatient personality, making extremely high demands on his teammates.

Saka is exceptionally talented, but he is still young.

He is sometimes not decisive enough in handling the ball, and there is a difference in understanding between him and the experienced Cancelo in terms of positioning and timing of passing.

In a typical attack, Group A intercepted the ball in their own half, and Rodri quickly passed it to Cancelo on the left wing.

After Cancelo received the ball, he saw Saka making a run down the left flank with an open space in front of him.

According to Cancelo, Saka should make a decisive high-speed forward run, use his speed to get past the defender, and then receive his through ball to create a breakthrough.

However, Saka hesitated slightly when starting, observing the position of his teammates in the mid lane, and his steps were a beat slower.

In that fraction of a second of hesitation, Bellerin had already quickly tracked back and blocked the passing lane.

Cancelo's through ball was easily intercepted by Bellerin!

The attack came to an abrupt halt!

"F**k!" Cancelo suddenly flung his hand away, his face instantly darkening as he yelled at Saka, who was still returning to his position.

"Run! Are you an idiot? What are you looking at?! Can't you see that huge gap?! What are you hesitating for?! Run!!"

Cancelo's voice was loud, filled with undisguised blame and anxiety, and sounded particularly jarring on the training field.

Saka was taken aback by the shout, his face instantly turning red, and his lips moved as if he wanted to explain something.

But seeing Cancelo's furious expression, he swallowed his words and simply lowered his head, silently running back to his defensive position.

Saka didn't even say anything back.

He was only 17 years old after all, and it was his first time training with the first team when he was publicly reprimanded by his teammates. You can imagine how wronged and stressed he felt.

Moreover, Saka's personality is like that; he's too humble and mild-mannered. This mild-mannered personality makes him easy to bully when paired with a teammate like Cancelo who is somewhat arrogant.

Professor Wenger on the sidelines immediately frowned.

Publicly criticizing younger teammates, especially on the training field, is very detrimental to team atmosphere.

Just as Wenger was about to intervene, two figures rushed over first.

One is Yan Yuan, and the other is veteran Pei Pei.

Yan Yuan ran up to Cancelo in a few steps, his face calm, but his eyes were sharp as knives as he stared directly at Cancelo.

"João! Calm down! It's just training! Bukayo is training with us for the first time; he needs time to adjust! What are you yelling about?"

Pepe also came over. This experienced Portuguese veteran, although he had just arrived at Arsenal, had a very strong presence.

He spoke in heavily accented Portuguese English, his tone low yet carrying an undeniable authority:

"João! Control your temper! This is a training ground, not a place for you to vent! Saka is still a child! Your yelling only damages his confidence and doesn't help his training at all! Do you think you acted like a professional player just now?!"

Cancelo was sandwiched between Yan Yuan and Peipei, one on each side.

One is a supernova, the other is a veteran of the national team.

Especially the reprimand from Pepe, the senior player on the national team, made him lose face, but his arrogance prevented him from easily backing down. Cancelo stubbornly argued back.

"I was just telling this kid what to do! The way he was positioning himself, he wasted all his opportunities!"

Professor Wenger also came over at this moment. He did not speak immediately, but his gaze swept over Yan Yuan, Pepe and Cancelo.

The professor's gaze finally settled on Yan Yuan.

Then, the professor nodded slightly to Yan Yuan, the meaning of which was very clear:

Yan, I want to see how you handle this.

Yan Yuan received the professor's signal.

He looked at Cancelo's defiant expression, a smile playing on his lips, and walked over.

"Okay, João, you think Bukayo's positioning is wrong? You think he's hindering the attack? Fine, how about we make a bet?"

Cancelo was taken aback: "What are we betting on?"

Yan Yuan pointed to the ball at his feet, then to the goal in the distance.

"I'm betting you can't stop me, 1v1, you defend, I attack, right here in this area, the rules are simple: after I dribble past you, I win if I shoot or get past you."

If you can successfully intercept the ball or force me out of bounds, you win.

"Five balls. If you can defend against just one of my balls, you win, I'll shut up immediately, and apologize to you on behalf of Bukayo."

Yan Yuan paused, his eyes sharpened, and his voice rose a few decibels, clearly reaching the ears of all the team members around him.

"But João, if you can't even defend one ball..." Yan Yuan pointed at Saka.

"You'll apologize to Bukayo in front of everyone! And promise that in the next training session, you'll shut your mouth and lead your teammates with actions and teamwork, not yelling! Do you dare?"

These words were delivered with conviction, carrying a strong sense of confidence and an unquestionable authority.

The entire training ground fell silent instantly, and everyone's eyes were focused on Yan Yuan and Cancelo.

Both new and veteran players stopped what they were doing, and even the coaching staff on the sidelines watched the scene with great interest.

Professor Wenger nodded slightly; he did not stop Yan Yuan and Cancelo from making their bet.

He wanted to use this incident to confirm whether Yan Yuan possessed a quality he desired: leadership.

Saka stared wide-eyed at Yan Yuan, who had stood up for him, his eyes filled with gratitude and worry.

Cancelo's face flushed red and then turned pale.

His inherent arrogance and competitiveness were completely ignited!

"What's there to be afraid of?!" Cancelo practically roared, ripping off his training vest to reveal a tight-fitting tracksuit underneath, his eyes glaring fiercely at Yan Yuan.

"Come on! Let me see just how much this three-time Golden Boot winner really is! Don't think you're invincible just because you've scored a few goals!"

"Very good." Yan Yuan's smile remained unchanged, but his eyes turned cold.

He found a ball.

The two began preparing for a 1v1 duel.

The match was paused, and everyone gathered around, forming a temporary spectator circle. The professor was also watching, eager to see how Yan Yuan would deal with Cancelo.

The atmosphere here instantly became tense and confrontational.

The first ball has been thrown.

Yan Yuan received the ball near the center circle and slowly dribbled forward.

Cancelo lowered his center of gravity and focused intently.

Yan Yuan suddenly made a feint by lowering his shoulder to the left, and then used the outside of his right foot to push the ball forward and to the right!

Speed ​​burst!

Cancelo reacted extremely quickly, immediately moving laterally to block!

However, Yan Yuan's second step after the ball touch was incredibly explosive, getting ahead of Cancelo before he could completely block his position.

Yan Yuan forced his way through with his body!

The moment Cancelo was pushed aside by Yan Yuan, he felt like he was battling a defender.

Yan Yuan's lower body was too solid, making him feel that it was difficult to shake him.

Although Cancelo made a pulling motion, Yan Yuan's core strength was extremely strong, and he withstood the interference, dribbled into the right side of the penalty area, and calmly pushed the ball into the far corner of the goal against Martin!

1-0!

Clean and efficient! Cancelo was left behind, looking somewhat disheveled.

The second ball continues.

Yan Yuan got the ball again, but this time, facing Cancelo's direct defense, he didn't choose to force his way through.

He rapidly feinted with both feet on the ball, his rhythm constantly changing.

Cancelo dared not make a move easily and could only follow closely.

Suddenly, Yan Yuan gently flicked the ball to the left with his left foot, shifting his body weight to the left as well! Cancelo instinctively shifted his weight accordingly!

In that instant, Yan Yuan's left ankle deftly and swiftly twisted the ball back to his right side as if by magic!

At the same time, his body darted away like an eel in the opposite direction of Cancelo's shift in weight!

The ball and the player have passed each other!

Cancelo was completely outmaneuvered and could only watch helplessly as Yan Yuan easily dribbled into the penalty area and scored again!

2-0! This time it was pure technical skill!

At the start of the third goal, Cancelo was clearly provoked and his defensive actions became more aggressive.

After Yan Yuan received the ball, Cancelo immediately rushed to intercept him, attempting to use his body to push Yan Yuan aside.

Saka watched the confrontation between the two, even clenching his hands nervously, feeling regret for his "weakness" and worry for Yan Yuan.

But Yan Yuan was not afraid of Cancelo at all. He took the initiative to meet him head-on, using his shoulder and core strength to meet him head-on.

The moment their bodies made contact, Yan Yuan moved faster with his feet, pulling and twisting the ball with his right foot while cleverly rotating his body, using the force generated by the confrontation to turn around!

Cancelo felt a strong force coming from him, tripped and almost fell.

Yan Yuan had already completed a magnificent turn and escaped, facing the goal again, and easily pushed the ball into the net.

3-0! This was a perfect combination of physical strength and technical skill!

After that goal, even the Arsenal players on the sidelines started applauding Yan Yuan.

By the fourth goal, Cancelo's expression had turned extremely grim.

He stared intently at Yan Yuan.

This time, Yan Yuan chose a more direct approach.

He dribbled the ball at high speed toward Cancelo, and just as they were about to make contact, he suddenly stopped!

Cancelo stepped on the ball with his right foot and pulled back, causing him to brake suddenly.

But Yan Yuan immediately followed up with another acceleration.

With a sudden stop and start, Cancelo completely lost his balance, slipped, and fell flat on his backside.

Yan Yuan swept past him like a wooden stake and sent the ball into the net again.

4-0! Cancelo sat on the ground, looking at Yan Yuan's back, his eyes filled with frustration and disbelief.

With only one chance left, Cancelo didn't want to give up, but he was already somewhat mentally unbalanced.

After Yan Yuan received the ball, Cancelo practically pounced on him.

Yan Yuan calmly protected the ball, leaning against him with his body, and quickly nudged the ball with his feet, looking for an opening.

Cancelo kept stretching out his leg to try to intercept the ball, and his hand movements became increasingly aggressive.

Yan Yuan seized the opportunity. Just as Cancelo tried to poke the ball again, he pulled the ball back with the sole of his right foot and jumped up lightly at the same time, dodging Cancelo's foot. After landing, he used his left foot to push the ball forward.

Another clean ball and human pass!

Cancelo missed again and turned back in a flustered manner, but Yan Yuan had already dribbled away and unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the penalty area, the ball flying straight into the top corner!

5-0.

Five balls.

Yan Yuan used five different methods—speed, skill, body movement, rhythm changes, and calm observation—to completely overwhelm this proud Portuguese U21 international full-back!

Every breakthrough was clean and efficient, and every shot was precise and deadly.

He didn't give Cancelo a single truly effective defensive opportunity.

After Yan Yuan scored his fifth goal, he did not celebrate, nor did he even glance at Cancelo, who was sitting on the ground.

He then turned around, stepped on the ball, and looked calmly at Cancelo. His voice was not loud, but it carried clearly throughout the stadium.

"João, five goals. Now go apologize to Bucayo."

The entire training ground was completely silent.

Everyone was awestruck by Yan Yuan's overwhelming personal abilities and the unquestionable authority backed by his absolute strength.

Everyone understands now; the three Golden Boots were no fluke.

The new recruits looked at Yan Yuan with respect, and veteran players like Yang Yang, Ramsey, and Xhaka nodded in agreement, showing their approval of Yan Yuan.

Pepe stood to the side with her arms crossed, her eyes sharply fixed on Cancelo.

Cancelo sat on the ground, sweat mixed with grass clippings sticking to his face, his chest heaving violently.

He looked up at Yan Yuan, who was standing in the sunlight. The figure that was a few years younger than him seemed incredibly tall at that moment.

Cancelo's arrogance and pride were shattered in the face of an absolute difference in strength.

He felt a burning sensation on his face, not only from losing the game, but also from the humiliation of being publicly crushed.

Seeing that Cancelo was still hesitating, Pepe walked over to him.

He gripped Cancelo's shoulders tightly with both hands and said in a commanding tone:

"João! Are you a woman? Stand up like a man! Go apologize to your teammates! Stop embarrassing yourself here! If you're still a man, if you're still a player for the Portuguese national team, then do what a man should do!"

This sentence was like the last straw.

Cancelo scrambled to his feet, head down, and brushed the grass clippings off his body.

He took a deep breath and walked slowly toward Saka, who had been standing on the sidelines looking somewhat lost.

Under everyone's gaze, Cancelo stood before Saka.

He raised his head, his eyes filled with complex emotions—shame and regret—but ultimately sincerity.

"Bukayo," his voice was a little hoarse, but clear enough, "I'm sorry. I was too hasty just now and shouldn't have yelled at you like that. It was my fault, and I apologize."

Cancelo gave a slight bow.

Saka clearly didn't expect Cancelo to actually apologize in public, and with such sincerity.

He paused for a moment, then quickly waved his hand:

"Um...it's okay, João. I also made some mistakes just now. I'll try to improve my positioning next time."

Cancelo nodded, then walked over to Yan Yuan and shook hands with him, though his face remained expressionless.

Yan Yuan shook Cancelo's hand, patted his upper arm, and said to Cancelo.

"Listen to me, João, Bukayo didn't do anything wrong, and neither did you. Everyone needs time to adapt to a new group. I hope we can all be understanding of each other from now on. We're all teammates, right?"

"Okay...you...are right, Yan, um...thank you."

It's not easy to teach a man who's used to being proud to bow his head, but Cancelo is already learning.

After the two finished speaking, Yan Yuan watched as Cancelo obediently returned to his seat.

Cancelo's earlier defiant attitude towards Saka had completely vanished, replaced by silence and reflection.

Professor Wenger stood on the sidelines, taking in everything.

His gaze lingered on Yan Yuan for a long time, his eyes behind his glasses sparkling with indescribable satisfaction and excitement.

He was now completely certain that the child possessed what he desired.

He saw Yan Yuan's unparalleled personal abilities, and even more so, his sense of responsibility, courage, and leadership qualities that far exceeded his age.

He not only overwhelmed the provocateur with his strength, but also maintained the unity of the locker room, protected his younger teammates, and forced the one who made the mistake to admit it.

This approach, firm yet measured, assertive yet fair, perfectly resolved the crisis.

At the same time, he established undisputed authority within the team.

Wenger seemed to see the young Vieira who had just emerged from obscurity but already showed his brilliance, the captain who united the team in the locker room with his iron fist and fairness.

Yan Yuan was shining with the same light as Vieira.

"Alright, kids, let's continue training."

The professor clapped his hands to signal everyone to continue training.