The First Defeat

The defeat against Augsburg Reds stayed in the minds of the Bavaria 1935 players for days.

Training became quieter.

The usual jokes and laughter were gone.

Everyone understood one thing.

If they played like that in the Bavarian Tournament, they wouldn't get very far.

Leon felt the same.

Every time he remembered the 4–1 scoreline, frustration filled him.

He had scored.

But it hadn't been enough.

A few days later, Coach Kramer gathered the team before training.

“I have good news and bad news,” he said.

The players exchanged nervous looks.

“The good news is that you've improved.”

Some players smiled.

“The bad news is that you're still far from where you need to be.”

The smiles immediately disappeared.

Coach Kramer walked toward the center of the field.

“Tell me. What is football?”

The players looked confused.

“A sport?” one answered.

“A game?” another guessed.

Kramer shook his head.

“Football is a competition.”

“A competition where every weakness gets exposed.”

His eyes moved across the team.

“Your opponents don't care about your dreams.”

“They don't care how hard you train.”

“They only care about winning.”

The players fell silent.

Then Kramer pointed toward Leon.

“Leon.”

“Yes, Coach?”

“You scored against Augsburg.”

Leon nodded.

“But you lost almost every physical duel.”

Leon lowered his head.

It was true.

The larger defenders had pushed him around all match.

“Talent gave you a goal.”

“Strength wins matches.”

Those words hit Leon hard.

That evening, Leon couldn't stop thinking about them.

Strength wins matches.

As he walked home, he noticed a small outdoor gym near the town park.

A few older athletes were training there.

Leon stopped.

For a moment, he hesitated.

Then he stepped inside.

If he wanted to become a professional player, he couldn't stay the same forever.

Over the next week, Leon added extra workouts to his routine.

Morning runs.

School.

Team training.

Then strength training.

His body quickly became exhausted.

One evening, he nearly collapsed onto his bed the moment he got home.

“Maybe I'm doing too much,” he muttered.

But every time he thought about giving up, he remembered his dream.

And he kept going.

At the end of the week, Bavaria 1935 played another friendly match.

This time against a local rival.

The match was intense from the start.

Midway through the first half, Leon received the ball near midfield.

A defender charged toward him.

Normally, Leon would have lost the duel.

But this time he held his ground.

For a brief moment, the defender failed to push him off the ball.

Leon escaped and created a dangerous attack.

The move didn't result in a goal.

But Coach Kramer noticed.

And so did Leon.

It wasn't much.

But it was progress.

After the match, Coach Kramer stopped Leon as the team headed home.

“You've been training extra, haven't you?”

Leon blinked.

“How did you know?”

Kramer smiled.

“Because I can see the difference.”

Leon felt a spark of pride.

But the coach continued.

“Don't get excited yet.”

“You've only taken the first step.”

Then Kramer handed him a sheet of paper.

“What's this?”

“The tournament group draw.”

Leon looked down.

His eyes widened.

There it was.

The name of their first opponent.

München Falcons U-16.

The strongest team in their group.

And one of the favorites to win the entire tournament.

Leon slowly clenched the paper.

The challenge he had been waiting for was finally approaching.