Become A Football Legend

Nobody responded.

Pep’s voice remained calm, but there was no softness in it. "We have lost our last two matches. We cannot lose today. We cannot draw today. We must win." He let the words sit in the silence for a moment before looking around again. "I will accept nothing less than the perfect result."

Nobody moved. Nobody even reached for a drink. After several more seconds, Pep gave a small nod and said, "The starting lineup is ready."

He turned toward Pep Lijnders, who stepped forward carrying two sheets of paper and handed them to Bernardo Silva. Bernardo glanced over the list, drew in a breath and began reading through the names while the room listened in silence. Rodri was starting. Haaland was starting. Doku, Bernardo and Foden were starting. Then Lukas heard his own name, and for a second the room seemed to narrow around that single fact.

He was starting the Manchester derby.

Beside him, Phil Foden heard his name as well. The two exchanged a glance, and Foden smiled first. "Our turn."

Lukas nodded. "Our turn."

The starters rose from their seats together, chairs scraping softly against the floor as the eleven players followed the coaches toward the training pitch for the final preparations. In just a few hours, Old Trafford’s biggest rivals would meet again, and for the first time in his career, Lukas Brandt would walk into a Manchester derby as a starter.

* * *

Etihad Stadium – Players’ and Family Car Park

12:45 p.m.

A black Mercedes-Benz S-Class glided into one of the reserved parking bays beneath the Etihad Stadium.

The engine fell silent.

The passenger door opened first.

Jane stepped out, smoothing down the black Manchester City third shirt she wore over a pair of fitted black trousers, a small leather handbag hanging from her shoulder. The shirt was plain, with no name or number on the back.

A second later, Roger climbed out from the driver’s seat.

Unlike his wife, he was proudly wearing Manchester United’s home shirt, JACKSON printed across the shoulders above his chosen number.

The rear door swung open.

Lexi hopped out, dressed in her own United shirt, adjusting it before looking first at her father, then at her mother.

Their eyes met.

Jane smiled.

Lexi smiled back.

"Ready?" Roger asked.

"As I’ll ever be."

The three of them joined the steady stream of supporters making their way toward the stadium. Sky blue shirts mixed uneasily with flashes of red, chants already beginning to echo around the concourse long before kick-off.

Security checked their tickets.

A quick scan.

A green light.

They were through.

Their seats were in one of the hospitality sections overlooking the pitch, an area often occupied by former players, executives, club guests and the families of footballers.

It was still close to two hours before kick-off.

The stadium was only beginning to fill, yet it already felt alive.

Ground staff made their final preparations. Television crews moved from one camera position to another. Groups of supporters sang from opposite ends of the ground, each trying to drown the other out before a ball had even been kicked.

Lexi settled into her seat with a large cup of Coke she’d picked up on the way in. She took a sip before slowly turning in a circle, soaking in the atmosphere.

She grinned.

"The Spurs game wasn’t anything like this."

Jane followed her gaze around the stadium before nodding.

"No. A derby is a completely different experience."

The previous home match against Tottenham had been their first opportunity to watch Lukas play for Manchester City. The result had been disappointing, the home defeat draining much of the atmosphere before the final whistle.

Today felt different.

Today the excitement had arrived hours before kick-off.

The rivalry itself seemed to charge the air.

Lexi was still looking around when she felt someone gently tap her shoulder.

"Lexi? Is that you?"

She turned immediately.

Standing behind her was a young woman with long dark hair flowing neatly over her shoulders, stopping just above her chest. She wore the same black Manchester City third shirt as Jane, paired with dark jeans, and she smiled the moment their eyes met.

Lexi’s face lit up.

"Joanna! What a coincidence! You’re here!"

"Of course I am."

The two hugged warmly.

Standing beside Joanna was Javi.

Joanna smiled as she gestured toward him.

"This is Javi. Lukas’ dad."

Lexi offered her hand.

"It’s really nice to meet you."

"You too."

As they talked, Roger and Jane turned toward the voices at the same time.

The moment Jane’s eyes met Javi’s...

She froze.

Roger noticed it immediately. Without saying a word, he reached over and gently squeezed her hand. Jane glanced at her husband before looking back at Javi.

Javi’s expression remained calm, carrying neither resentment nor awkwardness. He simply stepped forward and extended his hand.

"Roger. Jane."

Roger accepted it with a smile.

"Good to see you again."

Jane shook his hand as well.

"How have you been?"

"We’ve been fine."

Joanna, who had been standing beside Javi the entire time, looked from Jane to Lexi, then back to Jane again, her mouth hanging slightly open.

"You...?"

She pointed between them before looking at Lexi.

"These... are your parents?"

Lexi nodded.

"Yeah. Wait... you know them?"

Roger looked at Joanna with the same puzzled expression. He had never met her before.

"You know us?"

Joanna didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, she looked carefully at Jane.

She recognized her.

Months earlier, after Lukas had finally told her about his mother — her name, where she worked, and a little about their past — Joanna’s curiosity had gotten the better of her. She had searched for Jane online through the university website, found her faculty profile, seen photographs from conferences and university events, and immediately recognized the woman. She had even realized afterward that she and Jane had met at Old Trafford during Frankfurt’s Europa League match against Manchester United the previous season.

She had never imagined they would meet like this.

Roger broke the silence.

"We know Javi. We were classmates in college."

Lexi blinked.

"You were? I never knew you were friends with Lukas’ family."

Roger smiled.

"Life is funny sometimes."

Joanna remained quiet.

There were far too many questions in her head, but this didn’t feel like the place to ask any of them.

Javi simply gave Roger another nod.

"We’ll see you around."

Roger returned the gesture.

"See you."

Javi walked toward his seat.

Joanna followed him before Lexi suddenly caught her wrist.

"Wait."

She gently pulled Joanna into the empty seat beside her and leaned closer, lowering her voice.

"What’s going on?"

Joanna smiled apologetically.

"I think... you have to ask your parents that. I honestly don’t know what’s going on either."

Lexi stared at her for another second before laughing softly.

"Fair enough."

She nudged Joanna playfully.

"Sit with me for a bit."

"I’d like that."

The two girls settled into their seats together, chatting about university, Manchester and football, but every so often Joanna found herself stealing another glance toward Jane.

Jane looked calm and composed

But there was a sadness behind her eyes that Joanna couldn’t quite put into words.

Then—

Buzz.

Almost every phone in their section vibrated at nearly the same time.

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