799 Aaron’s Troubles (1/2)
Aaron Mitchell has never felt this valued in his entire life. The attention that he has been given so far exceeds the attention that he received during the very first time he played for Nottingham Forest in a Premier League match.
All eyes were on Mitchell as the team conducted physiotherapy, tactical drills and training sessions that worked on improving the players' techniques, set pieces and strength this week.
The kind of attention that was given to him was not one whereby the coaches approach him to ask dumb questions such as if he was feeling happy. The kind of attention that was given to him came in the form of the coaches' chastisements towards him following an increase in intensity in the training that he was given.
Using the strength training session as an example, Mitchell was informed that he had to do more strength training so as to enhance his overall physicality when he was first promoted into the first team, but the coaches became even stricter with their demands of him this week.
Luckily, the physiotherapy sessions following the training session have also been enhanced, if not Mitchell really doubted that he would be able to last for long.
The situation suddenly turned for the better in the middle of the week two days before the Champions League game. Mitchell was on his way to the gym to continue with his strength training when he was held back by Dunn.
”You don't need to do additional strength training today, Mitchell.”
”But I'm fine. I want to…” Mitchell was a little taken aback and he did not react in time.
”You don't need to do additional strength training tomorrow either.” Dunn smiled at him. ”I want you to rest up for these two days.”
Mitchell was baffled. The Chinese assistant manager was speaking in English, but Mitchell realized that he completely did not understand what he meant.
Dunn felt a little awkward as he looked at the confused expression upon Mitchell's face. He should not be revealing the starting list to the players without Tony's approval, but seeing how the lad has worked hard and pulled through his tough training for the past couple of days and how he was endearing…
Perhaps it would be all right to tell him as a reward?
”Yeah, Mitchell. You will start in the game two days later.”
Mitchell nodded his head and did not appear to be surprised in the slightest. It took him a while to react, and when he did, he nearly jumped into the air.
He bulged his eyes and stared at the assistant manager before him. ”What did you just say, Mr. Dunn?”
”I'm not dreaming am I, Mr. Dunn?”
Dunn shook his head. ”Rest up these two days. And don't tell anyone.”
Mitchell immediately covered his mouth and nodded his head. He thanked Dunn and ran away gleefully. Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please clickfor visiting.
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Aaron Mitchell's father was an ordinary workman who was also a loyal fan of Nottingham Forest, which was why he chose to send his son to Forest's football academy. He was overjoyed for days when his son got promoted to the first team by Twain, and he went about bragging to every person that he met that his son was a football star.
His son, on the other hand, was not as excited as he was. He was well aware about how competitive it gets in the team and he kept raining on his father's parade. He did not want him to get his hopes up.
Every time Mitchell did that however, his father would start acting authoritative and pretend he is about to slap him by raising his hand.
”Get your act together! Some French bastard whom I've forgotten the name once said, any football player who doesn't want to be a football star is not a good player!”
Mitchell has always acted in a much more mature manner as compared to his excited father. However, there was a turn of events today.
He deliberately hid the smile on his face the moment he entered the door.
”Good afternoon, Dad!”
”What good afternoon? It's almost night time!” His father was doing carpentry work in the garden and he responded to Mitchell without turning around.
”How's training?”
”I'm doing okay!”
”You make me think you are not training in your team at all when you say that.” His father's words sounded muffled since he was biting onto nails, but Mitchell could make out what his father was trying to say.
”I'm doing great!”
”That's more like it…”
”Where's mum?”
”Making dinner.”
”Heh heh.” Mitchell broke into a laugh suddenly. His father was surprised by his sudden laughter and dropped the hammer that he was holding. It nearly hit and hurt his fingers.
”Hey! You!” His father was about to chide him, but he realized his son was already gone by then.
He stood rooted at the ground for a moment. ”Did he get stimulated by something today?”
During dinner, neither the father nor the mother could focus on eating their dinners. They had their eyes on their son, who was smiling to himself.
Eventually, Mitchell's father opened his mouth to break the peculiar silence that they were in.
”Aaron, do you have a girl that you like?”
Mitchell found it odd that his father would suddenly ask a question like that.
He shook his head. ”I haven't liked anyone for a long time. Don't you know that, Dad? My height makes it hard for me to find someone suitable…”
It was certainly difficult for Mitchell to find a girlfriend with him being 2.02m tall. How awkward would it be if his girlfriend found it easier to give him a blowjob than to kiss him?
His father used to joke that he would have to look for a girlfriend in the girls' basketball team.
But… The girls in the basketball team all look a little…
”That's odd. Then why are you smiling to yourself if you don't have a girlfriend?”
”Ah! That's because…” Mitchell nearly divulged the information that he was going to be in the starting list for the Champions League match, but he suddenly remembered Dunn's words about keeping it a secret.
He quickly changed what he was about to say. ”Nothing. I'm just happy! Oh, right, Dad. Will you be going down to the stadium to watch the Champions League game?”
”When has your Dad ever missed watching a Forest game at the City Ground Stadium? Are you doubting my loyalty to Forest?”
”Heh heh.” Mitchell laughed again. ”That's good, that's good.”
His laughter made his father feel uncomfortable from top to toe.
”Mitchell! Stop laughing like that, you are not a girl! Hearing your laughter makes me lose my appetite to eat!”
His father knew that he was hiding something from him, but he could not force him to speak. The authority that he held as his father would also not be able to help him get his son to speak. He felt very upset at the fact that there was nothing he could do…
”All right, all right. Let's just eat.” Mitchell's mother spoke up to ease the mood.
Mitchell did not care about how his father seemed to stare daggers at him. All that was in his mind right now was not his father's reaction, but the Champions League instead.
He felt as though the sounds of the Champions League had rung by his ears. The sound set his heart ablaze and he became so excited that goosebumps broke out all over his body.
He imagined tens of thousands of people at the stadium chanting his name at the top of their voices.
He was finally going to fight against a strong European team. He was not just going to make an appearance in an insignificant competition at an insignificant time.
He once dreamed of donning Nottingham Forest's red jersey and making an appearance in a top-level European match as a child. Now, he was not too far from making his dream a reality.
Mitchell's mother felt a little worried after seeing her son's behavior. She knew that the team had increased his training load for the past couple of days. Her son had also come home a few days ago telling her how he was exhausted. She feared that Aaron was overly worn out.
”Rest up earlier tonight, Aaron.”
”I will, Mum. I will rest right after finishing dinner.”
Mitchell continued eating his dinner without haste. When he was done, he pushed his utensils forward and stood to his feet. He then said good night to his parents before going upstairs.