Chapter 89 - 87 - The Price of Balance II

Chapter 89: Chapter 87 - The Price of Balance II

Thursday morning passed through school, where Rafael joined Lucas, Hugo and Maxime during a break between lessons.

The approaching holidays had become the main subject among their classmates, with Friday being the last school day before the break for those without Saturday classes.

Lucas was sitting beside one of the corridor windows when Rafael arrived, while Hugo stood nearby checking something on his phone.

Maxime had gone to buy a drink and was just returning when Rafael sat down.

"You doing anything during the holidays?" Hugo asked, putting his phone away.

"Training, mostly."

"All the way through?"

"Pretty much. We’ve still got matches."

Lucas looked up from his phone. "That reminds me. You still coming Saturday, Hugo?"

"Yeah."

"Right. I’ll get the tickets tonight."

Rafael turned towards him. "For what?"

"The Sochaux match." Lucas showed him the ticket page he’d opened. "Me and Hugo were talking about going. Haven’t been to Saint-Symphorien in a while."

Hugo leaned closer to check the screen.

"Those seats are still available?"

"Yeah. I was looking at them yesterday."

"Get them before they’re gone."

Lucas scrolled through the available sections before asking whether Hugo was still happy with the seats they’d discussed.

Hugo nodded, and Maxime, who had been listening while opening his drink, asked what time the match started.

"Two," Lucas answered.

Maxime looked disappointed.

"I’ve got something with my family that afternoon."

"Can you get out of it?"

"Don’t know. I’ll ask when I get home."

Lucas nodded and returned to his phone, while Hugo turned towards Rafael.

"You playing?"

"Don’t know yet. We’ve still got training tomorrow."

"All right."

Hugo accepted the answer and went back to looking at the seating plan.

Lucas had found the section he wanted and was checking how many seats were available together. He asked Hugo to send his share of the money later, then put his phone away when someone from their class approached to ask about the holiday plans.

The conversation moved towards what everyone intended to do with the time off.

Hugo was visiting relatives for several days, while Lucas wanted to spend some time in town before his family made their own plans. Maxime still hadn’t decided whether he’d be around for much of the first week.

Rafael joined in when they discussed meeting up, although he couldn’t promise anything until he knew his training schedule.

When Lucas mentioned going out for food after Saturday’s match, Rafael told him he’d have to see when he was finished at the stadium.

"Yeah, we’ll sort it out," Lucas replied.

They continued talking until the warning bell sounded, and everyone began gathering their things for the next lessons.

Rafael stood with the others and picked up his bag while Lucas returned to discussing the tickets with Hugo.

Maxime promised to let them know whether he could make it before heading towards the stairs.

As they separated, Lucas called back to Rafael.

"I’ll message you when we’ve got them."

"All right," Rafael replied, raising a hand before heading towards his classroom.

He was still thinking about their plans when he reached the next lesson.

Lucas and Hugo had watched him play youth football before, but they’d never specifically arranged to attend one of his senior matches. Rafael couldn’t help hoping he’d get on the pitch while they were there.

The afternoon session at Frescaty was shorter than Wednesday’s, with Metz continuing their preparations for Sochaux through positioning exercises and defensive organisation.

The principal group again used three central midfielders, while Caron started on the left and moved inside whenever possession settled through the middle.

Rafael worked with the attacking alternatives, occasionally joining the principal group during rotations.

When he played from the left, he stayed available near the touchline and looked for opportunities to run beyond the opposing full-back. Several passes reached him in useful positions, although the coaches spent much of the afternoon adjusting the midfielders’ positioning whenever possession changed hands.

During one passage, Rafael received near the touchline and immediately attempted to move behind his marker, but the pass into the channel was intercepted before he could reach it.

Metz recovered and restarted the exercise.

Caron returned to the left for the next passage, moving inside to combine with Renaud while the supporting full-back advanced outside him.

The coaches allowed the attack to continue before stopping the exercise to reorganise the midfielders behind the ball.

Rafael collected another training bib when the groups rotated and completed the remaining work without creating another opportunity.

The afternoon passed without any significant change to the arrangement, and once the session ended, Rafael joined the others for the cooldown before heading inside.

Friday’s training was lighter, with Metz concentrating on rehearsed movements, defensive positioning and set pieces ahead of Sochaux’s visit.

Rafael joined the attacking group during the opening exercises, but when the staff organised the principal eleven for the final tactical rehearsal, Caron moved to the left.

Renaud remained through the middle, with Perrin on the right and three midfielders behind them.

Rafael collected a substitute’s bib and joined the opposite group.

The coaches spent the next half-hour rehearsing movements from the previous sessions, occasionally stopping play to correct a player’s position before allowing the exercise to continue.

During one attack, Caron moved inside to receive and found Renaud near the edge of the penalty area. The striker attempted to turn his marker, but the defender stayed close enough to force him backwards, allowing Metz to recycle possession before moving the ball wide again.

Rafael watched briefly before taking his position as the assistants prepared another passage.

When his group recovered possession, he accelerated down the left and offered himself for a pass into the channel.

The ball reached him near the edge of the area, but his attempted return pass towards a teammate was intercepted.

He turned and followed the defender as Metz moved possession away.

The staff eventually moved on to set pieces, where Rafael joined the substitutes for both attacking and defensive rehearsals.

He completed the work he was given, and once the session ended, the players finished their recovery exercises before returning inside.

The coaching staff called the matchday squad into the meeting room shortly afterward.

Rafael found a seat near the back while the head coach brought up the intended starting eleven.

Renaud was listed through the middle, with Perrin on the right and Caron on the left. Three central midfielders completed the arrangement behind them.

Rafael found his name among the substitutes.

He kept his attention on the screen as the coach continued through the remaining positions, although his eyes returned briefly to the left side of the formation before the display changed.

The coach went through the matchday arrangements and then addressed the substitutes.

"Everyone needs to stay ready. We might need to change things during the game, and I don’t want anybody coming on cold."

He looked towards the attacking players.

"Rafa, there could be room for you to run into later. Be ready if we need it."

Rafael nodded, and the coach continued without promising anyone playing time.

When the meeting ended, several players stood immediately, while others remained seated to collect their schedules.

Rafael waited until the players ahead of him had moved towards the doorway before standing. He collected his schedule, folded it once and slipped it into his pocket.

Caron was speaking with one of the midfielders near the entrance, while Renaud had already begun heading towards the changing room.

Rafael joined the others outside.

He’d spent the previous week preparing to establish himself alongside Renaud and had finally started against Dijon. Now, after another full week with the senior squad, he was back among the substitutes.

He didn’t disagree with the manager’s reasons, but he’d been looking forward to another start.

By the time he reached his locker, several teammates were already getting changed, and Rafael sat down to remove his training clothes before reaching for his bag.

One of the assistants moved through the room reminding players about Saturday’s reporting arrangements, while others discussed when they needed to arrive at Saint-Symphorien.

Rafael checked his own schedule and put it away with the rest of his belongings.

Most of the starting players had already left by the time he was ready.

He picked up his bag and headed towards the exit, passing a few teammates who were still speaking with the staff.

His phone vibrated as he reached the corridor.

Lucas had sent him a message.

Lucas: Got our tickets for tomorrow. Me and Hugo are going.

Rafael opened it while the remaining players passed him on their way out.

Rafael: Nice. See you there.

He put his phone away, adjusted the strap of his bag and left Frescaty.