Football Card System

Adam was dispossessed, and Luton nearly suffered a counterattack, but Kante stepped up just in time to regain possession.

Gao Bo remained silent on the sidelines, and the Luton players on the field assumed that Adam, who had just been substituted in, wasn't fully ready.

Adam himself was taken aback—his performance had been truly clumsy. If it had been the old Adam, he might not have thought much of it. Mistakes happen often in football; even Ronaldo makes them occasionally.

But now, under the praise of the English media, Adam had developed a bit of an "idol complex."

"I'm a genius, an English prodigy compared to Messi. How could I make such a clumsy mistake?"

He glanced toward the sidelines and saw Gao Bo frowning, which made him even more nervous.

Adam felt anxious—he desperately wanted to redeem himself with a better performance after his earlier mistake.

The opportunity came quickly. After Kante regained the ball, he didn't push forward immediately. Instead, he passed it back to the central defender. As Luton's players reorganized their attack, the team's buildup progressed slowly but steadily.

Gao Bo was very pleased with Kante's performance. Kante was a smart player; he always seemed to know the right thing to do in any situation.

"Perhaps Kante is more than just a defensive disruptor. With his football IQ, he might be capable of much more," Gao Bo thought.

While Gao Bo was considering assigning Kante additional tactical responsibilities, Luton's attack began again.

Kevin Keane attempted a cross from the left, but Chester's defender headed the ball to the right side of the field.

Adam White gained control of the ball.

Drinkwater called for it, knowing that Adam's position was unsuitable for a breakthrough. Even if Adam managed to beat a defender, it wouldn't create much of a threat, as Chester's defense was already regrouping on that side. At that moment, White was positioned near the sideline. Breaking through and attempting either a pass or a shot would be difficult to execute effectively. It would've been better to pass the ball back to the middle and reorganize the attack.

But Adam ignored Drinkwater and decided to take matters into his own hands.

Adam's dribbling skills were undeniably impressive. He skillfully moved the ball side to side, dribbled laterally, and carried it toward the center.

In the penalty area, Vardy was pressing a defender and calling for the ball with his back to the goal.

But Adam didn't pass to him; instead, he opted to shoot!

Adam's forced left-footed shot struck a defender, and Chester quickly launched a counterattack after reclaiming possession.

Luton lost the ball...

Gao Bo roared angrily from the sidelines. With a 1–0 lead that wasn't secure, Adam's poor decision-making was infuriating.

"Pass the ball, Adam!!!"

Gao Bo shouted toward the field.

The other Luton players glanced helplessly at the frustrated Adam.

As the game continued, Adam grew increasingly anxious. Players often enter a downward spiral when out of form, and Adam was no exception. Being a young and inexperienced player, he didn't know how to control his emotions or reset his mindset. The harder he tried, the more he struggled to find his rhythm.

Eventually, Gao Bo substituted Adam with center-forward Matt Schmidt, but Adam's poor performance had already disrupted the team's momentum. The substitution didn't yield the desired results.

Although Gao Bo resisted the urge to sub Adam off earlier, knowing it might shatter the confidence of the young player, the match ended with a disappointing draw.

After the referee blew the final whistle, Gao Bo's expression was grim. His team had squandered a chance to close the gap with the league leaders. Instead, the gap widened.

Gao Bo shook hands with the opposing coach and quickly walked into the player tunnel.

---

Luton training ground – under heavy rain

After the frustrating draw, an enraged Gao Bo refused to grant the team a day off. Training continued as usual despite the downpour.

Gao Bo's booming voice echoed across the training ground, cutting through the sound of rain. Even Maxxis, stationed in the security booth at the entrance, could hear him clearly. Maxxis looked toward the muddy field with concern.

Rainy training sessions were a common occurrence in England. The pitch had turned into a mud pit, and the players were essentially practicing in sludge. Gao Bo stood on the sidelines, his soaked training suit clinging to him, yelling instructions at the top of his lungs.

The main team was scrimmaging against the substitutes. Despite it being a practice match, Adam's performance remained subpar. He seemed to have lost his spark—his brilliance had faded, and the weather further limited his speed and effectiveness.

Time and again, Adam was tackled and failed to make an impact. When Kante dispossessed him once more, the 17-year-old dropped to his knees on the muddy pitch. Rain poured over him, creating a curtain of water that blurred his vision.

Adam felt as though he'd never regain the form he once had at Chelsea—when his speed and touch seemed effortless.

The sound of rain nearly drowned out the coach's shouting, but Adam soon realized all eyes were on him.

Looking up, he saw Gao Bo's furious expression.

"Boss!" Adam instinctively shouted as he stood up.

"Do you think you're a superstar now?! Look at your recent performances! You're not even qualified to play professional football!" Gao Bo bellowed.

The players, sensing the tension, dared not relax.

"Training ends now!" Gao Bo finally declared before adding, "Adam, stay behind!"

The players gave Adam sympathetic glances as they packed up and left for the locker room.

The rain continued to pour as Gao Bo walked toward the sidelines.

"Follow me!"

Adam, anxious, quickly followed. Gao Bo remained silent, seemingly trying to calm his anger.

In the past, Gao Bo had read countless stories of young talents fading after initial brilliance. He never thought he'd witness it firsthand.

Stopping abruptly, Gao Bo turned to Adam.

"What do you think of your talent, Adam?"

"I'm a genius, boss. You've said so yourself!" Adam replied confidently.

"Yes, you're a genius. You have talent many others can only dream of," Gao Bo said. "But do you know why so few talented players ever become world-class stars?"

Adam didn't respond.

"It's because they squander their talent. Talent alone isn't enough for success. It should fuel your work ethic, not be a crutch to rely on."

Adam opened his mouth to respond but couldn't find the words. At 17, he didn't know how to navigate this moment.

Gao Bo placed a hand on Adam's shoulder before taking off his muddy boots.

"Take these back and clean them," Gao Bo said.

Adam took the boots, watching as Gao Bo walked off the training ground barefoot.