Football: The British Legendary Manager

Henry and Paul continued their discussion, meticulously refining every detail of the tactics.

They went over player roles, movement patterns, and how to implement the high-pressing system effectively. It wasn't until an hour later that the first player arrived.

By that time, the staff had already finished setting up everything. When the player walked in, they greeted him warmly, their cheerful voices breaking the quiet of the morning. Henry and Paul turned their attention toward the newcomer.

Strictly speaking, there were still about two hours before the players were scheduled to gather, but when they saw who it was, it wasn't surprising.

It was the Wolf King himself, Francesco Totti. As the captain, he had to set an example in almost everything, even if it was just superficially. Naturally, on the first day of training, he had to be the first among the players to arrive.

Totti, dressed in the club's training kit, didn't show any strange reaction to the crowd as he walked calmly with a sense of authority, thanks to his status in the club.

When he saw Henry and Paul already there, he wasn't surprised. As the head coach, it was only natural for Henry to be early on such an important day, especially since he wasn't someone with a high reputation yet.

Despite his high status and the fact that he regarded Henry as someone who hadn't yet proven himself, Totti still walked toward them first.

If he were too arrogant and thought Henry had to greet him first, it would be like not taking the coach seriously and could create unnecessary chaos in the locker room.

The Totti of the past might have done it, but he was no longer a young man or someone who needed to feel approved.

He was now an older player whom the fans trusted deeply. If he were to act selfishly, it would feel like betraying the home of thousands of people.

"Morning, Mister," Totti greeted, his voice steady but polite. It wasn't overly familiar, nor was it distant, just the right balance between respect and professional courtesy.

To be honest, Henry would have loved being called "boss" or at the very least "coach," but no matter. He who conquers others is strong, but he who conquers himself is mighty.

You must learn to suppress your desires, arrogance, greed, and all emotions if you want to be mighty. Reading this mantra silently in his head, Henry smiled while in his mind, he was more resolute than ever to be mighty.

He gave a small nod. "Morning, Francesco. You're early."

Totti was a little surprised by Henry's Italian. Although the pronunciation wasn't standard, for someone who had started learning the language a month ago, it was already good.

Of course, he was a professional and had learned to keep a straight face. He simply shrugged his shoulders. "Captain's duty."

Henry could feel that Totti didn't really have an interest in talking to him but was just being polite and professional. This was also good; as long as the latter didn't give him problems, he would be fine.

Henry still remembered Rudi Völler, who joined as the head coach of AS Roma during the 2004-05 season and left a month later.

Some people said that it was because of locker room issues and other problems that forced the German, who was once the team's legend, to leave only a month after taking office. Henry, who had obtained this god-level opportunity, obviously didn't want to let it go.

He knew that if Totti decided Henry wasn't worth following, others would follow suit, and the season would be doomed before it even began.

Henry smiled and said meaningfully, "That's good. A captain leads not just in words but in actions."

Totti just chuckled. "Alright, I'll do some warm-up. After all, it's been some time since I touched a ball."

Not everyone is a training maniac. When most players have free time, especially during the off-season, they choose to stay as far away from football as possible, unless they are those who haven't proven themselves or have too much ambition.

Of course, this alienation is only temporary because when most professional football players end their careers, they find that they can't do without football and that it has become part of their lives. In the end, they start entering team management or other industry-related work.

"Okay, it just so happens that I still have things to discuss with my assistant, but don't overwork yourself. When the official training starts, you still have to participate. However, I suggest you go for a physical examination first after warming up."

Totti nodded. As he was in his training suit, he still needed to put on his equipment, while Henry and Paul chose to go to Henry's new office.

"So, what do you think about Totti's attitude toward us?" Once in the office, this was the question Henry asked Paul. The latter was not only his assistant and friend but also a person very good at interpersonal relationships, which could be considered Henry's weakness.

It's not that Henry couldn't read other people's emotions or anything, but Henry was the kind of person who was very stubborn inside.

He could accept making mistakes and even apologize, but as long as it was related to his honor and pride, he was too sensitive.

It could be said that this was one of the reasons he still hadn't found a wife at his age, despite his success and little financial freedom. He was too insecure.

Although he knew this, Paul wasn't overly concerned. He believed that Henry would eventually find the right woman, but for now, he supported his friend in concentrating on his career instead of getting caught up in some kind of drama.

As for Totti, Paul thought about it carefully, then shook his head. "He's neutral for now. He's giving you the basic respect a head coach deserves, but that's all. He's not against you, but he's not with you yet either."

Henry sighed. He had expected this. Totti was too experienced to judge someone hastily, especially a new coach with no top-level track record.

The captain would observe, weigh his options, and decide whether Henry was someone worth following. If he failed to convince Totti, the locker room would slowly turn against him, whether intentionally or not.

Paul continued, "The good thing is, he's mature now. If this were a younger Totti, things might be more difficult. But he's been through enough managers to know that making trouble early on doesn't help anyone. He's keeping his distance, but he's also being professional."

Henry nodded. "That's what I felt too. He didn't test me or act dismissive, which means he's willing to give me a chance. The key is whether we can win him over before the season starts."

Give him a chance? Henry wanted to swear because, for him, asking or needing someone to give him a chance felt like lowering his status. But no matter, this was the reality. Only the strong and the successful have a choice; the others can only adapt most of the time.

Paul smirked, knowing that Henry must feel unwilling, and added fuel to the fire, as if fearing the world wouldn't be chaotic enough. "Then we need results. Players like him don't care about words; they care about what happens on the pitch. If your tactics work, if the team starts playing well, he'll buy in. If not…"

Henry chuckled dryly. "If not, I'll be packing my bags by Christmas."

...

Hello, everyone. I know that many of you might feel disappointed because I haven't been consistent and don't have a stable schedule. The truth is, I'm writing just for fun, and I often have many volatile ideas. However, I realize that things can't continue like this, so I'll make an effort to focus more on this story writing one chapter per day. In return, I hope you can support me with reviews and Power Stones. Thank you!