Chapter 392: Chapter 65: First Training Session II

10:30 AM — Pressing Structure Scrimmage

Final thirty minutes focused on coordinated pressing. Full eleven-a-side scrimmage with emphasis on triggers that activated the press—heavy touches, square passes, poor body position.

Demien played with the first unit now: Bruno, Rashford, Mount, Casemiro, Shaw, Dalot, Lisandro Martínez, Raphaël Varane, Andre Onana in goal.

The second unit built from the back and the first unit pressed in organized shape, and Demien’s role as the left-sided eight was clear—when the center-back’s touch was heavy or the pass went square, trigger the press with Bruno and the winger, cut passing lanes, force the turnover.

Scrimmage started and the intensity was higher than the earlier drills because eleven-a-side brought competitive instincts out even in training.

Fifteenth minute: Harry Maguire received from Onana under pressure from Rashford and his touch was slightly heavy, pushing the ball two yards further than intended.

Demien read it instantly.

「TRAIT ACTIVATED」

Ball Winner

He sprinted to close the space before Maguire could recover, arrived just as Maguire tried to play inside to McTominay, and his positioning forced the pass to go exactly where Bruno was already moving to intercept.

Bruno won it cleanly, turned, played Rashford through the channel with one touch.

Rashford finished past the goalkeeper and Ten Hag’s whistle blew immediately.

"Exactly that," Ten Hag said, and he pointed at Demien. "You recognized the trigger, pressed with intent, forced the error. That’s what I want."

The scrimmage continued and Demien’s stats made the difference multiple times—his eighty-eight reactions meant he anticipated movements before they happened, his eighty-one vision let him see passing lanes others missed, his press resistant trait kept him calm when defenders closed him down.

Twenty-second minute: He received a pass from Shaw under pressure from two defenders, used Cruyff’s Turn to spin away from the first challenge, and played Mount through with a pass that split the defensive line.

「LEGENDARY SKILL ACTIVATED」

Johan Cruyff — Turn Innovator

Mount’s shot went wide but Ten Hag clapped anyway. "Good turn, good pass. That’s the quality we need in tight spaces."

Thirty-fifth minute: Casemiro won the ball in midfield and Demien had already started the run into space between Lindelof and Maguire, and Casemiro’s pass arrived perfectly weighted.

Demien took it on his left foot and the defender was closing fast, and instead of trying to dribble past him he played a quick one-two with Bruno that eliminated the defender completely and put him through on goal.

「STATS ACTIVE」

Vision: 81 | Short Passing: 82

His finish went bottom corner past the goalkeeper’s dive.

Ten Hag nodded but didn’t praise because goals in training were expected at this level.

The scrimmage ended at eleven and cooldown stretching followed, and Demien worked through the routine while his heart rate dropped and his breathing normalized.

Blue text appeared privately.

「FIRST TRAINING SESSION COMPLETE」

「Performance: Strong — Adapted quickly to system」

「Tactical Understanding: Pressing triggers recognized」

「Physical Condition: Excellent — Matched squad intensity」

「DAILY TRAINING MISSION COMPLETE」

「Reward: 10 TP」

「Current Balance: 465 TP | 21 SP | 483 MP」

The panel faded and Ten Hag approached as players started heading back toward the building.

"Good first session," Ten Hag said without stopping. "You understand space well, read the game quickly. Keep that intensity every day."

"Yes, boss."

Ten Hag walked away and McClaren passed by next, patted Demien’s shoulder briefly. "Solid start. He wouldn’t have said anything if he wasn’t impressed."

11:15 AM — Dressing Room

The showers were running and conversations echoed off tile walls while players cleaned up after the session, and Demien stood under hot water letting it wash away the training sweat while processing how the morning had gone.

No major mistakes. Good moments. Ten Hag’s approval. Teammates accepting him through performance rather than reputation.

Exactly what he’d wanted.

He changed into casual clothes and Mount was sitting on the bench by his locker scrolling his phone.

"Told you," Mount said without looking up. "Week one’s hardest. After that it’s just football."

"How long did it take you to feel settled?"

"Still getting there honestly." Mount set his phone down. "But Ten Hag makes it easier because he’s so direct. You know exactly what he wants. No guessing."

Rashford walked past and stopped briefly. "You’re quick on the turn. Keep showing that, you’ll get minutes."

The compliment was casual but genuine and Rashford didn’t wait for a response before continuing toward the exit.

Demien finished packing his bag and headed to the canteen where lunch was already being served.

12:30 PM — Carrington Canteen

Grilled chicken, brown rice, steamed vegetables, water. The same meal structure he’d eaten at Atalanta because nutrition didn’t change just because the club changed.

He sat alone at a table near the window and ate methodically while watching the dynamics around the room—Rashford and Sancho at one table laughing about something, Bruno and Casemiro at another discussing tactics in Portuguese, Mount by himself near the door with headphones in.

Marco appeared and sat across from him without asking.

"Heard it went well," Marco said.

"Who told you?"

"I have contacts. How’d it feel?"

"Intense. Fast. But manageable."

Marco nodded. "That’s Ten Hag. Tactical clarity, everyone knows their role."

They ate in silence for a minute before Marco continued. "Pre-season tour’s set. Fly to the States July twentieth. Three matches—Arsenal in New Jersey, Real Madrid in Houston, Wrexham in San Diego. Back July thirtieth."

"First competitive match?"

"Community Shield against City on August sixth if you qualify. If not, Premier League opener August twelfth against Wolves at Old Trafford."

Demien processed the timeline. Nine days of training here, then three weeks touring America, then competitive football.

"What about England?"

"September qualifiers. Southgate will call you up if you’re playing regularly. But that’s September. Focus on August first."

Bruno and Casemiro stood from their table and Bruno caught Demien’s eye, nodded once in acknowledgment before leaving.

Marco lowered his voice. "Media requests are coming in. Sky Sports wants an interview, The Athletic wants a feature, club media wants more content. I’m filtering most. You’ll do one sit-down with club channels Thursday for extended stuff. Rest can wait until you’ve actually played."

"When Thursday?"

"Afternoon. Standard questions—settling in, working with Ten Hag, goals for the season. Nothing complicated."

"Fine."

Marco stood. "Tomorrow’s a double session. Morning tactics, afternoon fitness testing. Eat properly tonight, sleep well. Ten Hag’s pre-season is notoriously hard."

After Marco left Demien finished eating slowly while observing the room empty gradually as players headed to recovery appointments or home.

Mount was still sitting alone with his headphones, and Demien wondered if being a new signing at a massive club always felt isolating or if it was just the timing—joining mid-summer when most players already had their established groups and routines.

He cleared his tray and headed outside where the driver was waiting to take him back to the Lowry.

Afternoon free for recovery. Evening for rest. Tomorrow the double session would test him properly.

Blue text appeared briefly.

「SQUAD INTEGRATION: DAY 1 COMPLETE」

「First Impression: Positive」

「Ten Hag’s Assessment: Capable, needs refinement」

「Teammate Acceptance: Building」

「Next Objective: Maintain standard in double session」

The car pulled away from Carrington and Manchester passed outside the window on the drive back, and Demien’s phone buzzed with messages he’d check later because right now his mind was still processing the session—Bruno’s tempo, Casemiro’s intensity, Ten Hag’s directness, the speed at which everything happened.

This was Manchester United. This was the level. This was what he’d chosen.

The real work had begun.