'We lost'.
They were just 2 words but to Sam, it felt like the weight of the whole world was pressing down on him.
Laying down on the pitch, he looked up, a strange look on his face.
The Liverpool FC players didn't celebrate too much, simply waving at their fans to acknowledge their support before walking into the dressing room.
And that was when while still laying down on the pitch, Sam noticed a player in the colors of Fulham FC walk towards him. Not the jersey, just casual clothes.
Inclining his head to look, he recognized the face. It was Alex Iwobi.
At so point, noticing him on the ground on the pitch, the Nigerian international walked into the pitch to help him up.
Standing above him, the Nigerian international stared at him, smiling slightly. "I know, it feels awful right? I feel the sa way after every defeat too," but then he chuckled. "But you'll have to get used to it Sam".
"Here in the premier league, unless you are perhaps playing for Manchester City, you have to get used to losing gas".
"That way, it won't leave scars". Alex Iwobi extended a hand to help him up.
For a mont, there was a dazed look in Sam's face like he was thinking about sothing, then he smiled. "I don't want to get used to losing, but when I lose, I think I can take it better now".
Alex shrugged. "Anything you say man".
Taking Alex Iwobi's hand, Sam helped himself up and as soon as he stood up, his eyes lingered in the Liverpool FC players in red as they walked into the tunnel.
There was a strange glint in his eyes. "There's a second leg of this ga, right?"
"Yes, and we'll play it in our ho stadium".
"Good," Sam nodded, the glint in his eyes turning sharper. "Next ti, I won't lose".
Alex Iwobi looked at him, shaking his head and chuckling. "That's not even Liverpool's strongest lineup, but I like your ntality man". He slapped Sam playfully on the shoulder. "Let's go".
Sam obliged, walking out of the iconic pitch alongside Alex.
As he walked out, rembering sothing, he looked up at the stands that were filled with tens of thousands of fans in red.
Sam grinned, thinking. 'Next ti, you guys will rember my na, I promise!' He clenched his fists tightly as he left.
After an impressive display all ga, being the main shining light for Liverpool FC throughout the ga, the Argentinian International, Alexis Mac Allister scooped ho the man of the match award for this ga.
And with that, today finally drew to a close.
As soon as Sam got back ho to his hotel room, after having another video call session with his mom and sister even as they talked about the ga, his mom especially cursing the Liverpool defense which made Sam palm his face tiredly, Sam finally got a new WhatsApp ssage from his coach.
It was the fixture for Fulham's next ga. After the ga against Liverpool FC, Fulham's next ga was in 3 days.
(Premier League:)
(Chelsea – Fulham)
(Date: 13th January, 2024)
As soon as he saw the club na on the fixture, Sam could not help but chuckle. 'Damn! What a welco to the premier league'.
On his first weeks in England, he already watched and participated in his team playing against 2 of the English premier league's most prestigious clubs already in the form of Arsenal and Liverpool.
And now, his club was about to go up against a 3rd heavyweight of the English premier league in Chelsea FC, and all of it was within a matter of days.
'It's good though'.
'Big gas an more publicity, it's the perfect setting to make a na for myself early in the premier league'.
Thinking of sothing, he grimaced. 'That is if I play though'.
Alex Iwobi's words never left his head yet. Back in Nigeria, Sam may have been seen as the African Zidane, a generational player already, but here in England, there was no shortage of generational players.
To the Fulham manager, Marco Silva, all he had was an exciting talent who was yet to be proven consistently in the biggest stages.
Sam wondered if Coach Marco Silva would trust him for the Chelsea ga.
He didn't think too deep into it though, thinking too much would deprive him of sleep. Instead of thinking, he would rather sleep, wake up early and focus on putting even more in training to convince his coach.
Sam slept early that night.
Waking up early the next day, he started his ritual again. Running through the streets of Fulham and ending in Craven Cottage, the ho stadium of Fulham FC, he quickly completed his daily system quest before returning back to his hotel room to freshen up.
Not too long after, he reported to the stadium again for training, this ti even earlier than ever before as he got there just a few minutes after 7.
Again, he was the first Fulham FC player to report for training.
Before his coach and other players could co, Sam did so personal training on the pitch with the ball as he put in the hard work.
And when the manager eventually ga, at exactly 8:00am, training started.
And again, Sam put out another stand-out performance in training.
For the next few days, Sam kept on putting impressive performances in training as he made the squad that would be traveling to London to play against Chelsea FC, staying in the bench for the second consecutive ga.
Alex Iwobi also stayed in the bench for this ga.
For the second consecutive ga, Sam made a trip to one of the most iconic stadiums in the world and all of England, Chelsea FC's ho stadium, Stamford Bridge.
Marco Silva's starting line-up for this ga was his perceived current best starting XI.
Diop and Adarabioyo started in center defense. Tete started as the right back of the team, while Robinson completed the 4-man defense as the left back. Like usual, Bernd Leno started as the goalkeeper.
In the 4-2-3-1 formation, Cairney and Palhinha started as the defensive midfielders. Pereira started as the attacking midfielder, Willian as the left winger, while Wilson started as the right winger.
For this ga, Raul Jinez led the attack as the striker.
On the Chelsea side though, they were going up against the likes of Raheem Sterling, Cole Palr, Thiago Silva, and Enzo Fernandez.
It was going to be another uphill battle for Fulham FC.
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