Become A Football Legend Chapter 387 - 003

~5 minute read · 1,249 words

Previously on Become A Football Legend...

Manchester City dominated the match, scoring five goals against Wolves. Lukas was instrumental in multiple attacks, including setting up Cherki for a goal and providing a dummy that led to Marmoush's goal. Despite several spectacular saves by Wolves' goalkeeper José Sá denying Lukas a goal, City secured a resounding 5-0 victory.

Two weeks later...

The apartment was silent.

Rain tapped softly against the floor-to-ceiling windows as Lukas sat alone on the living-room sofa, elbows resting on his knees, staring blankly at the television.

The screen showed Sky Sports.

Bright red graphics flashed across the bottom.

BRIGHTON 2-1 MANCHESTER CITY

CITY LOSE SECOND GAME IN THREE

Only days earlier, Tottenham had beaten Manchester City 2-0 at the Etihad.

Now Brighton had followed with a 2-1 victory of their own.

The studio discussion wasn’t focused on City’s defending.

Nor Pep Guardiola’s tactics.

It was focused on him.

The next graphic appeared.

£77 MILLION LUKAS BRANDT... STILL WITHOUT A PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL OR ASSIST.

Lukas didn’t move.

He simply watched the headline linger across the screen in silence.

He already knew what was coming. He had seen the headlines online all afternoon. Seeing them on television somehow made them feel heavier.

The screen replayed Manchester City’s home defeat against Tottenham.

The Etihad had been restless that afternoon. Spurs had frustrated City for over an hour before finally breaking through, and by the time Guardiola turned toward his bench in the sixty-fifth minute, his side were already trailing.

The broadcast replayed Lucas jogging onto the pitch.

65’ — Lucas Brandt replaces Tijani Reijnders.

The montage rolled on.

One defender beaten.

Then another.

A sharp turn between two Tottenham midfielders before slipping Marmoush through on goal.

Vicario saved.

Another attack.

Lucas glided inside from the right, skipped past Pedro Porro, drove toward the edge of the box and curled one toward the far corner.

Vicario again.

Another clip.

Lucas danced past three white shirts before slipping Marmoush through the inside-right channel.

Again the Egyptian couldn’t convert.

Then came perhaps the closest moment of the afternoon.

Lucas drifted across the edge of the area, opened his body and whipped a curling effort beyond Vicario’s reach. The entire stadium rose expecting the equalizer before Micky van de Ven somehow sprinted across the goalmouth and cleared the ball almost off the line.

The screen froze.

A graphic appeared.

Lucas Brandt vs Tottenham

25 minutes played

5 successful dribbles (Most in match)

3 shots on target

2 big chances created

8.3 Match Rating

Then the highlights moved to the eighty-ninth minute.

Manchester City had thrown almost everyone forward searching for the equalizer.

Tottenham broke on the counter, and 3 passes later, the ball was in the back of Trafford’s net.

2-0.

Game over.

The screen faded before immediately switching to Brighton away.

Another graphic appeared.

Premier League Matchday 3

Brighton 2–1 Manchester City

This time Lucas had started.

The replay showed him beginning on the right wing with Cherki operating centrally behind Haaland. Early in the first half, Cherki threaded a beautiful through ball into Haaland’s run for City’s opening goal, but after that Brighton slowly fought their way back into the match.

Still, Lucas kept creating.

One sequence showed him dribbling past two defenders before firing low toward the far corner.

Saved.

Another.

He skipped beyond Estupiñán, cut inside and unleashed another strike.

Saved again.

Another.

A whipped cross found Marmoush completely free inside the six-yard box.

Wide.

Then another chance.

Lucas burst through midfield, beat a defender with a drop of the shoulder and slipped Haaland in behind.

The Norwegian’s shot rattled the outside of the post.

When the montage ended, another statistic filled the screen.

Lucas Brandt vs Brighton

60 minutes played

9 successful dribbles

5 shots

2 big chances created

8.5 Match Rating

Goals: 0

Assists: 0

The camera returned to the studio.

Micah Richards leaned forward before anyone else could speak.

"I honestly think people are looking at the wrong numbers. Everybody keeps talking about zero goals and zero assists, but actually watch the games. Against Tottenham he came on for twenty-five minutes and completely changed City’s attack. Against Brighton he was probably their most dangerous player every time he got on the ball. If his teammates finish the chances he’s creating, we’re having a completely different conversation today."

Jamie Carragher nodded thoughtfully.

"I’ll admit, he’s looked better than I expected. The talent is obvious."

"But that’s exactly my point," Micah continued. "Football isn’t played on spreadsheets. Sometimes you can play brilliantly and still finish with no goal contributions. José Sá probably stopped him from getting three against Wolves by himself. Vicario was outstanding against Tottenham. Brighton’s keeper made two brilliant saves as well. If Lucas keeps producing performances like these, the numbers will come. I’d actually be more worried if he was invisible. He’s not invisible. He’s everywhere."

The discussion moved on.

A new graphic appeared.

Bundesliga stars adapting to the Premier League

Florian Wirtz (Liverpool)

3 matches

0 Goals

0 Assists

Nick Woltemade (Newcastle United)

3 matches

0 Goals

0 Assists

The presenter spoke over the statistics while clips from all three players played side by side.

"The biggest arrivals from Germany have all needed a few weeks to settle. Lucas Brandt at Manchester City, Florian Wirtz at Liverpool and Nick Woltemade at Newcastle are still waiting for their first direct goal contribution in the Premier League."

Micah shrugged.

"That’s football. Different league, different intensity, different teammates. People expect instant miracles because of transfer fees. Give them time. These are outstanding footballers, and I’d be amazed if all three aren’t among the league’s best players before the season is over."

Lucas quietly exhaled.

Just then the front door opened.

Javi walked into the apartment carrying a mug of coffee. He glanced once at the television, immediately understood what his son had been watching, and without saying a word picked up the remote.

Click.

The television fell silent.

He sat beside Lucas.

"Don’t listen to them," he said calmly. "You’ve played well. The goals and assists will come naturally."

Lucas kept looking at the muted screen for another moment before nodding.

"I know. But... the English media really is something else."

Javi smiled.

"I told you. Germany is demanding. England is relentless."

For a few seconds neither of them spoke.

Then Javi took a sip of his coffee.

"When do you fly?"

"Tomorrow morning."

"To Germany?"

Lucas shook his head.

"No, straight to Bratislava.The opening match of the qualifiers is in 3 days."

"Then don’t stay up too late."

Javi stood, squeezed his son’s shoulder and disappeared toward his room.

A few minutes later Lucas switched off the television and walked quietly into the bedroom.

Joanna was already asleep, curled beneath the duvet.

He smiled to himself, leaned down and kissed her gently on the forehead before changing into his night clothes. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he unlocked his phone and opened FotMob.

Manchester City’s fixture list filled the screen.

His thumb slowly scrolled downward.

September 14

Manchester United vs Manchester City

The Manchester Derby.

He continued scrolling.

League matches.

Champions League fixtures.

Then...

His thumb stopped.

November 25, 2025

UEFA Champions League