Pre Season in Spain

The sun was high over Girona as the Brighton squad prepared for their first pre-season match against FC Midtjylland. The players were loose and focused, their muscles warmed by the Spanish heat and the training sessions led by Nagelsmann.

In the stands, Edward watched intently as the players went through their warm-up routines, noting the blend of new faces and familiar ones. Michy Batshuayi, brought in on loan, was a key focus. The Belgian striker was expected to add firepower to the attack and was enthusiastic to join given the competition in the current Chelsea side.

Next, his gaze shifted to Lautaro Martinez, acquired from Racing Club for £11 million. He had taken the last spot on their Under 21 non-English players outside of England and was a far better deal compared to Tonali, who Edward, now had no regret signing.

In goal, James Shea was another addition, brought in to help meet the homegrown player requirements.

As Edward continued to survey the squad, he also reflected on the structural changes within the club. Miguel Ángel Portugal had joined as the head of youth development, bringing a wealth of experience to nurture the club's young talents alongside staff of his own choice who would serve as junior coaches.

Nick Levitt, who had become part of the management squad as the head analyst, was another crucial addition.

The squad was almost complete, though there were still gaps in the right-back and left-back positions. Edward had been working tirelessly to secure suitable candidates, and currently they were receiving difficulties in their Darmian deal, with Manchester United wanting to include a mandatory future fee in the loan deal.

Moreover, there were several young players who had either joined or were about to join. Talents like Jarrod Bowen, Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze, and Fikayo Tomori, who had been at brighton on loan last season, being the prominent names.

The hard work put into building this squad was about to be tested on the field. The whistle blew, signaling the start of the match, and Edward leaned forward, his attention fully captured by the game.

First Match: Brighton vs. FC Midtjylland

The match began with a high tempo, both teams eager to make a mark. Brighton, started with a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Alisson in goal, with Lewis Dunk and Matthijs De Ligt ahead of him, while Bruno and Bong were the fullbacks.

The midfield was composed of Rodri, Barella and Pascal Groß. While Grealish played at left wing and Knockaert on the right and the attack was spearheaded by Batshuayi.

Brighton displayed Nagelsmann's tactical philosophy from the start, emphasizing pressing, quick transitions, and fluid attacking movements. With the FC Midtjylland players being put under pressure during the entire game.

In the 13th minute, Alisson received the ball for a goal kick. Instead of launching it long, he rolled it out to Dunk, positioned on the edge of the penalty area. Midtjylland's forwards began pressing high instantly, forcing Dunk to act quickly. Dunk took a quick look up, assessing his options while shielding the ball from an advancing forward.

"Matthijs, drop deep!" Dunk shouted, signalling de Ligt to shift into a more supportive position.

Dunk calmly shifted the ball to his right, where he sent a pass that skipped past De Ligt to Bruno, who had also dropped deep to offer support. With the press closing in, Bruno tried to push forward but was quickly confronted by a faster opponent. He pivoted, using his body to shield the ball and played a quick one-two with Barella, who had positioned himself centrally to receive the ball and relieve the pressure.

Barella, now with the ball, was immediately closed down by an opposing midfielder. Instead of playing it to Bruno, he turned sharply, evading the challenge with a deft touch. He looked up, scanning the field, and spotted Bong making a run down the left flank.

He dribbled further forward, skipping past another pressing player before sending a swift pass into Bong's path.

Bong's first touch was slightly heavy, causing him to slow down and adjust his stride which gave the Midtjylland's right winger time to close in on him, forcing him to pass the ball back to Groß, who had dropped deep to create an option.

Groß, under pressure, took a quick glance around before one-touching the ball back to Rodri, who was positioned centrally. Rodri, showing his vision, controlled the ball with a calm assurance and played a diagonal ball to Knockaert on the right wing.

Knockaert received the ball in stride, immediately confronted by Midtjylland's left-back. He paused, drawing the defender in before accelerating with a burst of pace, dribbling past the player, and heading down the line. As the defense scrambled to cover, Knockaert cut inside, drawing the central defender out of position.

"Near post!" Knockaert shouted as he moved.

Batshuayi, sensing the opportunity, made a run towards the near post, dragging another defender with him. This movement created space for Grealish on the opposite side, who had drifted in from the left wing. Knockaert, spotting the run, looked up and played the ball into the air unfortunately it curved right, forcing Grealish stop his run.

Grealish controlled the ball with his left foot, bringing it down smoothly. A Midtjylland defender immediately closed him down, forcing Grealish to shield the ball with his body. He felt the defender's breath on his neck and with a quick feint, shifted the ball to his right, using the inside of his foot which gave him enough space to dribble into the box.

Another defender came to challenge and Grealish performed a step-over with his right foot and used his left to nudge the ball past the defender.

Rodri had followed the play and was now offering support from behind, shouting instructions and encouragement. "Take on!" Rodri called in broken English, sensing the vulnerability in the defense.

With the goalkeeper, positioned slightly off his line to narrow the angle, Grealish glanced up and saw a gap at the far post. He drove forward, his eyes locked on the target. Using the outside of his right foot, he curled the ball low and hard towards the far corner.

Grealish's shot slipped just under the goalkeeper's outstretched hand and nestled into the bottom corner of the net. The crowd erupted in applause, and Grealish, after briefly stumbling, got up and celebrated with his teammates. Nagelsmann clapped on the sidelines, his eyes scanning the bench as he gave a nod of approval.

His gaze fell on Jude Bellingham, who was not playing but was brought to the camp to gain an understanding of the team's dynamics and tactics. Bellingham, attentively watching the game, looked eager to contribute. Next to him sat Jarrod Bowen, who had shown promise in training sessions with the U21s. Nagelsmann had decided to bring Bowen along for the training camp to get a closer look at his potential.

Brighton continued to apply Nagelsmann's high-pressing strategy, keeping Midtjylland under constant pressure. However, in the 28th minute, a lapse in concentration occurred. Groß attempted a risky back pass to Dunk, but the ball was intercepted by Midtjylland's forward, who quickly advanced towards the goal.

"Get back! Get back!" Nagelsmann shouted from the sidelines, his voice carrying over the pitch.

Despite the defenders' best efforts, Midtjylland's forward managed to slot the ball past Alisson, leveling the score at 1-1. Nagelsmann berated the team from the touchline, emphasizing the importance of maintaining focus and precision.

"Keep your heads up and stick to the plan!" he urged, clapping his hands together to rally his players.

In the 40th minute, Bruno, having pushed up from the right-back position, executed a overlap, receiving a through ball from Knockaert. Bruno's first touch was good, and he delivered a low cross into the box. Batshuayi, positioned well, attempted a first-time shot, but the ball was deflected wide by a defender.

"Unlucky!" Bruno called, offering encouragement as he jogged back to his defensive position.

Brighton continued to dominate possession, with Grealish and Knockaert creating numerous chances from the wings. In the 39th minute, Grealish received a pass from Bong, deftly dribbled past two defenders, and sent a curling shot towards the top corner, only to see it tipped over the bar by the goalkeeper.

As the referee blew the whistle for half-time, the players began to walk towards the bench. Nagelsmann called everyone over, gathering them in a tight huddle.

"Alright, everyone, listen up!" Nagelsmann began, his voice firm. "We've been doing well in terms of possession and pressing, but we need to be more clinical in front of goal," he said, turning to Batshuayi, "I need you to stay calm and composed. You're getting into good positions but take a breath before you shoot."

Batshuayi nodded, his expression serious.

"Bong," Nagelsmann continued, "I need you to be more decisive when you're on the ball. Look for opportunities to push forward and support the attack. You're playing it too safe right now."

Bong nodded, looking slightly chastised but determined.

Nagelsmann paused for a moment, allowing his initial instructions to sink in before continuing with more tactical changes.

"Knockaert, you're coming off," Nagelsmann said, turning his attention to the right winger. Knockaert's face showed a mix of disappointment and annoyance, but he nodded without protest.

"Bowen, you're on," Nagelsmann announced, shifting his focus to the young winger. Bowen's face flashed with nervous excitement. "Listen to me," Nagelsmann said, placing a reassuring hand on Bowen's shoulder. "I need you to bring energy and pace down the right. Take on your man, don't be afraid to make mistakes. Just keep pushing forward and create opportunities."

Bowen nodded, his expression determined yet slightly apprehensive.

"Valverde, you're on for Groß," Nagelsmann continued. Valverde, who had been warming up on the sidelines, jogged over, his face focused and ready. "I want you to keep the tempo high and provide more dynamism in the midfield. Help us transition quickly from defense to attack."

Valverde nodded, absorbing the instructions with a focused expression.

Nagelsmann then turned back to the group. "Fluidity will come with time, but we need to keep pushing and not be afraid of making mistakes. It's our first match, and I want you all to focus on the process, not just the result. Be bold, be willing to take risks, Groß, I saw what you were trying to do with the backpass, to open up that space for Rodri to get the ball and this is all good, it will all become refined soon and next time, the pass will meet its target."

The players nodded, their spirits lifted by Nagelsmann's confidence and clarity.

"Alright, everyone back out there," Nagelsmann said, clapping his hands. "Except for Bowen, Valverde, and Barella. Stay here for a moment."

As the rest of the team headed back onto the pitch, Nagelsmann gathered the trio for some final words.

"Jarrod, I want you to cut inside when you see the space. Use your speed to get past the full-back, he's not that fast, and look for Batshuayi or Grealish in the box. Don't be afraid to take a shot yourself if you get the chance." Nagelsmann instructed, looking Bowen in the eyes to ensure he understood.

Bowen nodded, his nerves seemingly settling.

"Federico," Nagelsmann continued, "I need you to help Rodri control the midfield. Be aggressive, win the ball back quickly, and drive forward when you have space. Look for those forward passes to unlock their defense but don't force any plays."

Valverde nodded after a coach repeated the words to him in a Spanish, his intense focus indicating his readiness.

Finally, Nagelsmann turned to Barella. "Nicolo, you're doing great, but I know you can do even better. You're being a bit hesitant to take on your man. Remember, you have the skill to beat them. Look for those opportunities to dribble and create space."

Barella looked thoughtful, nodding as he absorbed the feedback.

"Think about how you handled that challenge in training last week," Nagelsmann added, giving an example. "You saw the Rice coming, you faked left, went right, and created an opening. That's what I want to see. Trust in your ability."

Barella's face brightened as he remembered the moment, and he nodded.

"Alright, let's go out there and show them what we've got," Nagelsmann said, giving them each a firm pat on the back before they headed back onto the field.

Back on the field, Barella felt a surge of determination coursing through his veins. The halftime pep talk had ignited a fire within him, and he was ready to showcase his abilities.

5 minutes after the whistle blew to resume play, a Midtjylland midfielder received a long ball from his teammate, but his touch was heavy, allowing Barella to pounce on the opportunity.

Barella swooped in and snatched the ball away, his studs scraping against the turf as he swiftly changed direction. But he could feel the opposing player hot on his heels, determined to win back possession.

Barella didn't panic. Instead, he embraced the challenge, knowing he had the skill to outmanoeuvre his opponent. As the Midtjylland player closed in, Barella executed a Cruyff turn, shifting his weight to leave the midfielder lunging in the wrong direction.

The small crowd gasped in admiration as Barella smoothly maneuverer away from the tackle and with a burst of acceleration, he surged forward.

Another Midtjylland player came charging towards Barella, his eyes locked on the ball as he waited for Barella to dribble closer. Sensing the imminent challenge, Barella made a split-second decision.

He feinted to the right planting his foot before bringing the ball back with the inside of the same foot he planted, then, in one fluid motion, he shifted the ball to his left foot and accelerated past the player with a burst of speed.

The defender's tried to get the ball but instead his outstretched leg clipped Barella's heel, sending him tumbling to the ground but Barella quickly regained his footing and continued his run.

The referee signalling for advantage as he approached the edge of the penalty area, while Barella's mind raced with possibilities. He could see his teammates making runs, with Grealish running diagonally through the box.

Without hesitation, he played a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Grealish, who had received it with his back turned to goal.

As the ball reached Grealish's feet, the Midtjylland center back scrambled to close him down, sensing the danger.

With a quick feint, Grealish shaped his body as if to shoot, causing the defender to flinch and the goalkeeper to shift his weight. But instead, Grealish executed a clever stumble, as if he had lost control of the ball for a split second.

The defender, momentarily thrown off balance by Grealish's move, lunged forward to block the anticipated shot. But to their dismay, Grealish knocked the ball to his left and seeing the open left side of the goal, he outstretched his left foot and poked the ball towards the far post.

The goalkeeper attempted to scramble across the face of goal, but he could only watch as the ball nestled into the back of the net, sending the few Brighton fans in the stadium into a frenzy of cheers and applause.

As Grealish celebrated his goal, Edward watched from the stands with a sense of satisfaction. Seeing the team execute Nagelsmann's tactics on the field filled him with pride. But his assistant took away his attention from the game as she approached him, a phone in her hand.

"Edward, it's Sheikh Saeed. He wants to have a word with you," Siana said, holding out the phone to him.

Edward sighed, as much as he wanted to ignore the call from, he knew it would do him no favours, but he also didn't want to be distracted from the match.

"Another offer?" Edward asked, already anticipating the answer.

Siana nodded, her expression serious. "Yes, another offer."

Edward ran a hand through his hair in frustration, his annoyance evident.

"Alright." Edward said, reluctantly taking the phone from Siana.