Firdaus woke up two hours before dawn. Not because he planned to, but because his heart wouldn't let him sleep. The weight of Cardiff City, a team with history and expectation, sat on his chest like an anchor. He wasn't just a coaching assistant anymore. He was in charge—at least temporarily.
He checked his phone. A barrage of notifications.
BBC Sport: Cardiff City name unknown interim manager ahead of Leeds opener.
Twitter Trending: Who is Ahmad Firdaus?
Reddit Championship Forum: This is a joke, right?
Firdaus sighed and tossed the phone onto the desk. He walked over to the mirror and stared at himself. Hoodie over disheveled hair, dark circles under his eyes, and that typical expressionless face. Even now, he looked like he couldn't care less.
But inside? He was burning.
He made a strong cup of black coffee and sat down at his dining table, flicking through the reports and documents the club had sent him. Tactical breakdowns, player fitness sheets, scouting notes—none of it was new to him, but now it was all real. His decisions mattered.
At the training ground, the atmosphere was a mix of curiosity and uncertainty. The players and staff were still adjusting to the abrupt change, and the air buzzed with whispers. Firdaus walked through the hallways like a ghost—silent, unreadable, purposeful.
The staff greeted him with brief nods. He responded with the same stoic expression, only offering a few polite acknowledgements. Inside his temporary office, he found the layout functional but plain. A small desk, a tactics board, and a computer terminal.
Assistant coach Omer Riza walked in moments later. He was holding a tablet and wore a skeptical expression.
"Match in three days," Riza said, leaning against the wall. "I've prepped the reports on Leeds. Daniel James is likely to start wide left. They like to press early."
Firdaus accepted the tablet and scrolled through the data. "Thanks. I'll go through it."
"You want help running the drills this afternoon?"
"I'll let you know."
There was a pause. Riza eyed him carefully.
"You sure you're alright?"
"I'm always like this," Firdaus replied, not looking up.
Riza snorted. "Fair enough. You've got the poker face of a funeral director."
Once the door closed, Firdaus whispered, "System."
The digital interface appeared before him in a soft blue glow.
[Match Preparation Module: Active]
[Opponent: Leeds United – August 6]
[Predicted Line-up: 4-2-3-1 High Press]
[Key Threats: Daniel James (Dribbling 85, Acceleration 91), Joel Piroe (Finishing 86), Ethan Ampadu (Ball Recovery 82)]
Firdaus stared at the tactical overlays. He could simulate training effects, assess formation weaknesses, and compare player matchups.
[Suggested Counter-Tactic: 4-1-4-1 Mid Block with Ramsey as Free Roamer]
He tapped "Simulate." A heatmap appeared, showing predicted ball movement and possession trends. Defensive stability increased by 12%. Possession retention dropped by 6%, but wide areas were neutralized.
"Not bad," he murmured.
He selected Ryan Wintle from the squad list.
Composure: 68 | Confidence: Medium | Loyalty: High | Personality: Determined
"Edit player," he whispered.
He slid Wintle's Composure from 68 to 73.
[Edit Saved – No noticeable effect unless under pressure]
That was enough. Subtle. Safe.
His eyes hovered over Kion Etete. The system highlighted his anxiety level. Firdaus frowned.
Kion's too noticeable if changed suddenly.
He exited editing mode.
The team gathered in the media room later that afternoon. Firdaus stood at the front, remote in hand, as a PowerPoint slide beamed onto the projector screen.
Leeds United's formation appeared. The wide channels glowed red.
"Daniel James will cut in from the left," he began, his voice steady and calm. "Fast. Aggressive. If our full-back overcommits, we're exposed."
Some players shifted uncomfortably. Others blinked in surprise.
Joe Ralls raised his hand. "So... how do we contain that?"
Firdaus clicked again. The screen split in two.
"We sit in a mid block. Ramsey floats to press between their pivot and attacking mid. Wintle stays anchored. Trigger the press only if Ampadu touches the ball twice. We shift as a unit—no chasing wide."
There was a moment of silence.
Perry Ng scratched his head. "You planned all that already?"
"Since yesterday," Firdaus replied bluntly.
Karlan Grant exchanged glances with Callum Robinson. "It's solid," Grant said. "Simple to follow."
Firdaus didn't respond. He shut the projector off.
"Training starts in twenty. Be ready."
As the players left, Yakou Meite said under his breath, "Man talks like he's been here ten years."
Firdaus overheard. He didn't flinch, but a rare, tiny smirk appeared on his face.
The training session on the pitch was sharp. Firdaus didn't shout. He didn't bark orders. But he was always watching—silent, intense.
When Mark McGuinness broke shape during a defensive drill, Firdaus called out, "Drop three feet. You're breaking the line when they switch."
McGuinness blinked. "What?"
"You're stepping early. Let the midfield press first. Hold your line."
They reran the drill. This time, the defense held strong.
Assistant coach Riza turned to him. "You spotted that on the fly?"
Firdaus didn't reply. He just nodded.
That evening, back at his flat, Firdaus sat cross-legged on the couch. The glow of the system's interface was the only light in the room.
[Edit Option Available: Team-Wide Morale Adjustment – WARNING: May raise suspicion if overused]
He ignored the option. He wasn't desperate. Not yet.
Instead, he opened another simulation. Leeds pressed hard. Ramsey drifted wide, created a triangle. A cut-back. Goal.
Win probability: 42%.
It wasn't overwhelming, but it was higher than it should be.
His phone buzzed.
Text from: David Newton (Director of Football)
"We need results on Sunday. No excuses. Board will be watching."
Firdaus stared at the message. He didn't reply. He didn't need to.
The system pinged.
[New Module Unlocked: LIVE MATCH MODE – Ready for Activation]
He stood up, staring at the city lights outside his window. His first game as a manager loomed closer.
No more planning. No more theory.
The real test was coming.
And he had everything he needed.
To be continued...
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