Manny's Journal - W255

[iltornante]

It is strange, seeing the difference in levels between the academies I played in when I was in France, and the SSL Academy. I have always been among the quickest players on my team, since I was young. Until now. Sometimes it is difficult to keep up with Maestro and Honcho. They are moving at speeds I just cannot fathom. So this past week, I have been training this. I have been working on ways to make myself quicker. My first step must be more explosive, to move past a defender and into space. My stride rate must be higher to move faster. These kinds of things.

Of course, it is not enough to simply move faster. I must also move wiser. I must also develop the ability to change directions quickly, to keep the ball under control as I move, and to see which movement is the best decision. Some of this is difficult to train alone, and I must rely on team training sessions to develop it. But other things... Other things I can do by myself. So I have done agility drills, dribbling around cones, all these things. It was not until I returned to my room yesterday night that I realised I wanted nothing more than to play on a concrete pitch like the ones we had in France. Sometimes, inside the steel cages, all of these things I need to improve, are tested.

[DivogoJota]

238 words and the heat of Manny's burning desire to reach the pinnacle.