Ethan took the tablet from his assistant, his own reflection momentarily visible on the dark screen. He looked young, focused, and completely in his element. He glanced at the man beside him.
A quick check of his own mental interface brought up the assistant's profile.
[Assistant Manager: James Pearce | Rank: A | Key Attributes: Tactical Knowledge, Player-Management, Adaptability]
An 'A' rank assistant was a solid, dependable number two. Pearce had the calm, experienced demeanor of a man who had seen hundreds of these pre-match moments. It was reassuring.
"Thanks, James," Ethan said, the name feeling natural on his tongue.
He then turned his attention to the room, clapping his hands together once. The sharp sound cut through the quiet tension.
"Alright, listen up," he began, his voice resonating with a confidence he didn't entirely feel but knew he had to project.
"Look around the room. This is it. This is our squad. This is Apex United. In a few minutes, we're going to walk out onto that pitch and play the first match in this club's history. No one has ever worn this crest in a competitive game before. That's something special. That's something you'll be able to tell people for the rest of your lives."
He paused, letting the words sink in.
"I'm not going to give you a complicated speech. Our strategy is simple. We press them until they can't breathe. We move the ball with purpose. And we trust each other. I don't care about the final score today. I care about seeing the fight. I care about seeing the identity we started to build yesterday. Go out there and show me what kind of team we're going to be."
He looked around the room, meeting the eyes of his senior players—Hanley, Gunn, Sara.
He saw their professional focus, the switch flicking to game mode. Then, his eyes found Emre Demir. The teenager was staring at his boots, looking overwhelmed by the weight of the moment.
"That's all," Ethan announced to the room.
"Final preparations on the pitch. Let's go."
As the players began to file out, Ethan motioned for Emre to hang back. The young player approached him hesitantly.
"You okay, Emre?" Ethan asked, his voice softer now.
"Yes, Coach. Just… a little nervous," Emre admitted, not quite meeting his eyes.
"Good," Ethan said with a small smile.
Emre looked up, confused.
"Good?"
"Nerves are good," Ethan clarified.
"It means you care. It means this matters to you. Listen to me. I know there's a lot of pressure on you. You're the number 10, the creative spark. But I don't need you to win the game by yourself today. I just need you to be yourself. Find space, ask for the ball, and do what you do best. Your teammates trust you. I trust you. Just go out there and have fun. The rest will follow."
A little bit of the tension seemed to melt from Emre's shoulders. He gave a small, grateful nod.
"Yes, Coach. Thank you."
"Now get out there," Ethan said, giving him a light pat on the shoulder.
Ethan followed his team out of the tunnel. The stadium was still empty and silent, a sterile training environment. The players went through their final warm-up drills, the ball zipping across the perfect grass. Ethan stood on the touchline with James Pearce, observing, a feeling of immense pride swelling within him. They looked like a real team.
As the warm-up concluded, a final prompt appeared in Ethan's vision, visible only to him. It was simple, massive, and pulsed with potential.
[BEGIN MATCH]
This was the point of no return. He took one last look at his players, huddled together in a circle for a final word. He took a deep breath. He pressed the button.
For a split second, the world went white.
The silence was shattered by a deafening roar.
Ethan stumbled back a step, his senses completely overwhelmed. The empty blue and white seats were now filled with 40,000 screaming fans. Banners with the Apex United crest hung from the railings. The air, once sterile, was now thick with the smell of hot dogs and the electric tang of mass excitement.
He looked up at the giant screens at either end of the stadium; they were playing a slickly produced hype video featuring his players.
This wasn't a simulation anymore. This was a spectacle.
He looked down at himself. He was no longer in his tracksuit. He was wearing a sharp, tailored black suit over a blue club tie. On his chest was a small, elegant pin of the Apex United crest. He was the manager.
"Bit different with the fans in, eh, boss?" James Pearce's voice came from beside him. He too was now in a suit, looking completely unfazed.
"You could say that," Ethan managed to reply, his voice hoarse.
He was standing in the technical area, the white lines stark against the grass. Across the halfway line, in the opposite dugout, was the Bradford City team.
Their manager, a burly, older man with a kind face, was already walking towards him, his hand outstretched.
Ethan met him at the halfway line, his heart pounding.
"Mark Hughes," the man said, his handshake firm and warm.
"Pleasure to meet you. It's always exciting to see a new club start its journey. Best of luck out there, son. But not too much luck, eh?"
Ethan was shaking hands with a real-life football legend, the manager of the opposition.
"Ethan Couch. The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Hughes. You too."
They exchanged a respectful nod, and Hughes returned to his dugout. The reality of the situation was staggering. This was a complete, living, breathing football ecosystem.
The stadium announcer's voice boomed over the PA system.
"And now, please welcome, for the first time in their history… your APEX UNITED!"
The roar of the crowd intensified, a physical force that vibrated through Ethan's entire body. He turned towards the tunnel just as his captain, Grant Hanley, emerged, his face a mask of grim determination.
He was followed by the rest of the starting eleven, each player looking focused and ready. The last one out was Emre Demir, his eyes wide as he took in the incredible scene, the noise, the passion.
He looked less like a nervous kid now and more like a young star stepping onto the stage that was always meant for him.
They lined up, side-by-side with the Bradford players. The referee held the match ball. The coin toss was complete. Everything was in place.
Ethan retreated to his technical area, his hands shoved in his pockets to stop them from shaking. He looked at the eleven players wearing his colors, standing under the bright lights, representing the club he had created just yesterday.
The referee looked at his watch, raised his whistle to his lips, and blew.
A roar erupted from the 40,000 fans as the ball was kicked, rolling gently backwards to start the game. The first-ever match in the history of Apex United had begun.