Chapter 155: Friendlies match
September 12, 2020
The new season had officially begun, with fixtures ranging from Fulham vs. Arsenal to Crystal Palace vs. Southampton, Liverpool vs. Leeds United, and West Ham vs. Newcastle United. It was a massive day for the Premier League and football fans worldwide. But before the main spectacle, two teams had decided to join in on the excitement by putting their squads to the test in a friendly match.
One of these teams was none other than Manchester United, the most talked-about club of the transfer window. A team that had sent shockwaves across the footballing world with their high-profile signings. Pundits and fans alike were already murmuring about them as the potential dark horses of the season—an unpredictable force lying in wait. The English giants, now under new leadership, sought to assess their freshly assembled squad against a strong yet underestimated opponent.
That opponent? None other than "The Lions of Birmingham"—Aston Villa. A team that, while rarely expected to challenge for the title, was never one to be taken lightly. They had built a reputation for resilience, a squad that could trouble even the best on their day.
But this wasn’t a high-stakes Premier League encounter. No, this was a friendly match—an exhibition game, a chance for both clubs to experiment, to fine-tune their tactics, and to give opportunities to new players. A friendly match was meant to be relaxed, almost casual.
Well, for Matt Targett, Aston Villa’s starting left-back, nothing about this match felt friendly at all.
’Shit, he’s coming again.’
Matt’s heartbeat pounded in his ears as his eyes locked onto the young winger tormenting him all game. For the first couple of dribbles, he had dismissed it as luck, maybe even complacency on his part. The third and fourth? Just a fluke, he told himself. But by the fifth, sixth, and seventh time, he had no more excuses left. This kid was special.
Glancing at the clock—43rd minute. Almost halftime. If he could just hold his ground until the whistle blew, he’d have time to reset, to figure out how to stop this nightmare.
He planted his feet firmly, centering himself, his body tensed like a coiled spring. He had to anticipate what the kid would do next. Was he going to cut inside? Burst down the wing? His mind raced, recalling every time the young forward had left him for dead.
’He’s fast—too fast,’ Matt thought, remembering how the kid had torched him with sheer pace earlier. That was when he had underestimated him. Not this time. Not again.