Chapter 83 - 81 - Both Sides of the Job

Chapter 83: Chapter 81 - Both Sides of the Job

Rafael arrived at Frescaty shortly after eight on Monday morning, carrying his training bag over one shoulder.

He’d returned from Switzerland the previous afternoon, and his mother had been waiting when he got home. She’d prepared dinner despite working earlier that day, and they ended up spending most of the evening together before Rafael unpacked his belongings and went to bed.

His calves were still a little stiff when he walked into the medical department, although the soreness had eased considerably since Saturday’s final.

One of Metz’s performance coaches greeted him and directed him toward an examination room, where England’s reports were already open on a computer.

"Morning, Rafa. How was the journey back?"

"Fine. Got home yesterday afternoon."

"Good. Take a seat for me."

The coach reviewed his playing minutes across the four international matches, checking them against the training and recovery work he’d completed during the camp. Rafael answered questions about his sleep, soreness and how he’d felt after the final before being asked to stand for the physical assessment.

He completed several movement checks, followed by controlled strength exercises and short running efforts. His calves felt tight during the opening movements, but there was no pain, and he was moving more comfortably by the time they finished.

The coach examined the results before turning back to him.

"Anything hurt when you were running?"

"No. They’re just a bit heavy."

"All right. We’ll keep you on a reduced load today and tomorrow. If everything’s fine after that, you can join the full group on Wednesday."

Rafael nodded, collected his programme and headed toward the changing room.

Caron was sitting near his locker pulling on his boots, while Perrin stood beside the benches sorting through his training clothes.

"Morning," Rafael said as he entered.

Perrin looked up.

"Rafa! How was the trip?"

"Good. Got back yesterday."

"Nice one on Saturday, by the way."

"Thanks."

Perrin moved his bag aside so Rafael could reach his locker, then returned to getting changed.

Caron glanced over from the opposite bench.

"Did they give you the morning off?"

"Recovery. I’m back with you lot Wednesday."

Caron nodded and pulled his other boot on.

Renaud arrived a few minutes later, greeting the players nearest the doorway before coming across to shake Rafael’s hand.

"Well done, mate."

"Cheers."

Renaud gave him a pat on the shoulder and returned to his locker.

Around them, players were discussing Metz’s preparations for Dijon. The squad had continued training during Rafael’s absence, and several of his teammates were talking about exercises they’d completed the previous week.

Loïc was among those getting ready when an assistant appeared at the doorway and called the available players outside.

Rafael followed the performance coach in the opposite direction.

His programme began with easy cycling and mobility work before progressing to controlled strength exercises and short running intervals. He completed everything without discomfort, although his legs still felt the effects of Saturday whenever he increased his pace.

Through the windows overlooking the training pitches, he could occasionally see the first-team squad working outside. Renaud was with the attacking group, while Caron and Perrin moved between exercises on the adjacent pitch.

Rafael finished his recovery work with another assessment, and the staff were satisfied with how he’d responded.

On his way back toward the changing room, he passed an area used for individual rehabilitation.

Jérôme Hennequin was working with a rehabilitation coach, receiving short passes before returning them and moving through a set of markers. Several footballs had been arranged nearby, but there were no other senior players training with him.

Rafael raised a hand as he passed, and Hennequin acknowledged him before turning toward the next ball.

Rafael continued down the corridor.

Tuesday brought another light session at Frescaty and a return to the schoolwork that had accumulated during Rafael’s absence.

He attended the classes he could manage around training, although several assignments still needed finishing. Lucas and Hugo had kept the notes he’d missed, and Rafael spent part of his lunch break comparing them with the work he’d completed in Switzerland.

Lucas had brought the wrong workbook and was searching through his bag when Rafael noticed what he needed.

"It’s in the other one," Rafael said, sliding his own book across.

Lucas checked the cover.

"Ah, brilliant. Left mine at home."

He borrowed Rafael’s book long enough to copy the instructions before returning it. Maxime arrived shortly afterward, and the three continued working until it was time for their next lesson.

Rafael had made enough progress by the time he left school to finish the remaining pages that evening.

His session at Frescaty went smoothly, and after another assessment, the performance staff cleared him to resume full senior training on Wednesday.

When he checked his programme that night, his name was back with the main group.

Wednesday’s tactical meeting began with the coaching staff showing the players several clips of Dijon.

Rafael sat beside Caron near the back of the room as the first sequence appeared on the screen. The footage showed Dijon moving down their right, with the full-back advancing beyond the winger before Metz’s coach paused the video.

The staff had been considering two arrangements for Monday’s match. One kept an additional midfielder in the side, with Caron operating from the left. The other placed Caron behind Renaud, Perrin on the right and Rafael on the left, leaving two deeper midfielders to protect the defence.

The coach brought up Metz’s formation.

"We’re working with this group first today. Renaud through the middle, Caron behind, and Perrin and Rafa outside."

Rafael looked at the left side of the screen, where his name was positioned ahead of the full-back.

The coach returned to the Dijon footage.

"There’s room to attack here when their right-back goes forward. But if we lose the ball, we’ve got to get back across. We can’t have our full-back dealing with both of them."

He continued through the remaining instructions before moving on to the other arrangement they would test during training.

When the meeting ended, Rafael followed the squad outside.

The coaches divided the players into two teams for the main opposed session. Renaud took his position through the middle, with Caron behind him and Perrin on the right, while Rafael moved toward the left touchline.

The first few passages were competitive.

Renaud received near halfway and held off his marker long enough to return possession to Caron, who switched play toward Rafael. The opposing full-back closed quickly, forcing Rafael to lay the ball back before turning and running into the space behind him.

His supporting midfielder spotted the movement, but the return pass came too late and was intercepted.

Both groups reset after the clearance.

A few minutes later, Caron collected possession between the lines and found Perrin near the right touchline.

Rafael was standing wide on the opposite side. As Perrin advanced, he began moving inside, accelerating toward the far post while Renaud occupied the central defenders.

The winger attempted to take his marker on, but his next touch carried the ball too close to the challenge.

The defender stretched out a foot and won possession.

Rafael was already turning when the opposing midfielder collected the loose ball and looked toward the right, where a teammate had begun advancing behind Metz’s left-back.

He sprinted across the pitch, angling his run toward the passing lane, but the midfielder released the ball before he could reach it.

The pass found the advancing player, leaving Metz’s left-back retreating toward his own penalty area.

Rafael continued chasing while a deeper midfielder moved across to help. The defenders eventually forced the attacker away from the box, and Metz recovered possession after intercepting the next pass.

The assistant called for another passage.

Rafael jogged back toward the touchline, still breathing hard from the recovery run.

A familiar blue panel appeared at the edge of his vision.

FOOTBALL LEGACY SYSTEM

[TRAINING MISSION]

[COMPLETE THE ROLE]

[Objective: Demonstrate effective attacking and defensive contributions as a left forward during the senior opposed training session.]

[Requirements:]

[Create one clear goal-scoring opportunity from a left-sided attacking position.]

[Prevent one dangerous opposition progression through your assigned defensive channel following a turnover.]

[Reward: Work Rate +0.3]

[ACCEPT] [DECLINE]

Rafael read the requirements while the players reorganised around him.

He selected the first option.

[MISSION ACCEPTED]

The panel disappeared as the assistant rolled another ball into play.

Caron received in midfield and turned toward the left, where Rafael was waiting near the touchline.

The pass reached Rafael’s feet with the opposing full-back already moving across. He brought the ball under control, but the defender had positioned himself close enough to block the run down the outside.

Rafael returned possession toward Caron and stayed wide while his teammate moved the ball back through midfield.

Perrin received on the opposite flank, although his first attempt to advance was delayed by the defending full-back. He played backwards, exchanged another pass with Caron and received again with enough room to accelerate.

Only then did Rafael leave the touchline.

Renaud had moved between the centre-backs, drawing one toward the near side of the six-yard box as Perrin carried forward. Rafael approached the far post while the winger looked up and delivered.