Chapter 49 - 47 - Play Beside the Standard

Chapter 49: Chapter 47 - Play Beside the Standard

Rafael arrived at Frescaty shortly before half past eight on Thursday morning and found Jérôme Hennequin standing beside Caron’s locker.

The returning striker had one foot resting on the bench as he tightened his bootlaces, while Caron showed him something on his phone. Both men were laughing when Rafael passed them on his way to his locker.

"Morning, Rafa," Caron called.

"Morning."

Hennequin looked up and gave him a nod before returning to his boots.

Rafael had seen the updated training programme the previous evening, so the striker’s presence was no surprise. After several weeks of rehabilitation and restricted workloads, Hennequin had finally been cleared to participate in an unrestricted team session.

Renaud was sitting a few lockers away, pulling on his training socks.

"All right, Rafa?"

"Yeah, you?"

"Good. How’d yesterday go?"

Rafael set his bag down and opened his locker.

"Got everything sorted. Mum was happy."

"Good to hear, mate."

Renaud nodded toward Hennequin, who had finished tying his boots and was now talking to Vautrin.

"Looks like we’ve got a full house again."

Rafael smiled as he took out his training clothes.

"Getting crowded up front."

"Tell me about it. Another couple of forwards and we’ll have to start borrowing lockers."

Rafael laughed before pulling his training shirt over his head.

Hennequin had been Metz’s first-choice centre-forward before his injury, and the other forwards had spent preseason covering his absence. Renaud had established himself as a reliable alternative through the middle, while Rafael and Vautrin offered different options alongside another striker.

With Hennequin returning, the staff now had to decide how those options would fit around their established number nine.

Once everyone was ready, the players gathered in the briefing room.

The head coach waited until they had settled before going through the morning’s programme. The players would begin with possession exercises, move into attacking patterns and finish with a full-sided tactical game.

He glanced toward Hennequin.

"Jérôme, you’re with the main group today. Don’t try to make up for the last few weeks in one session."

Hennequin smiled.

"I’ll behave, coach."

"That’ll be a first."

A few players laughed before the assistant began assigning the training groups.

Rafael would start alongside Renaud during the opening exercises, while Hennequin worked with Caron and the other senior attackers.

As the assistant finished, the head coach looked toward Rafael.

"Rafa, you’ll join Jérôme for the final game. We’re using two up front, and I want to see you working off him."

"All right, coach."

"Stay connected when he comes short. We’ll see how you get on."

Rafael nodded, and the coach continued with the remaining assignments.

Once the briefing ended, Rafael collected his training top and followed Renaud toward the pitch.

He had already played alongside two different types of forwards during preseason. Renaud could occupy defenders and protect difficult forward passes, while Vautrin preferred leaving the defensive line before arriving late in the penalty area.

Hennequin had established combinations with the senior midfielders long before Rafael joined the group. Caron already knew where he wanted possession, and the other attackers had learned how to move around him.

Rafael would have to account for those existing relationships when choosing his movements.

As he approached the exit, the System appeared.

[NEW TRAINING MISSION]

[Play Beside the Standard]

[Objective: Combine with Metz’s first-choice striker to create one goal during the full-sided tactical exercise.]

[Reward: Decision-Making +0.2]

[Time Limit: Today’s Training Session]

[ACCEPT]

[DECLINE]

Rafael selected the first option.

[MISSION ACCEPTED]

[Progress: 0/1]

The panel disappeared as he followed the others onto the pitch.

The opening possession exercises passed without anything unusual, and Rafael completed his work alongside Renaud before the coaches separated the players into smaller groups for attacking patterns.

Hennequin was working on the neighbouring section of the pitch with Caron and Perrin.

His first few touches were untidy. One firm pass from Caron escaped his control, while another forced him to stretch farther than he had intended.

He retrieved the second ball before it crossed the byline and returned it to the assistant.

"Little bit earlier on that one, Caron."

"Yeah, my bad."

Caron collected another ball, and Hennequin returned to his starting position.

On the next sequence, the striker moved across the nearest centre-back before checking toward midfield. Caron found him immediately, and Hennequin returned the pass before turning into the space behind the defensive line.

Perrin had already begun his run down the right, so Caron released him early and the winger delivered a first-time cross toward the penalty spot.

Hennequin reached it ahead of the defender, but his shot travelled narrowly wide.

"Better," he called as he jogged back.

Rafael collected another ball for his own group while Caron and Hennequin prepared to repeat the movement.

Caron waited until Hennequin had moved across the defender before releasing his next pass, and Perrin was already advancing down the right by the time the striker returned possession.

The attack ended with a shot that the goalkeeper saved, but the three senior players returned to their starting positions without needing to discuss the movement.

During Rafael’s next rotation, Renaud protected a firm pass with Vasseur pressing into his back and laid it into Rafael’s path. Rafael released possession toward the winger before continuing into the penalty area, where the resulting cross travelled behind him.

He adjusted his run, but the goalkeeper collected the delivery before he could reach it.

The assistant called for another ball.

Rafael returned to his starting position, and they worked through several more repetitions before the coaches brought the attacking patterns to an end.

By the time the players gathered near the centre of the pitch, Rafael had seen enough of Hennequin’s combinations with Caron to recognise the striker’s preferred receiving positions.

He had also noticed that Caron often delayed his pass until Hennequin had moved across the nearest defender, even when another forward had already begun running into space.

That established timing would matter once Rafael joined their attacking unit.

"Right, lads. Full-sided game now," the head coach called. "Get your bibs and find your teams."

Rafael joined the side wearing blue, where Caron and Perrin were already collecting their equipment. Hennequin arrived a moment later with a bottle of water, while Renaud joined the opposing team.

The assistant confirmed their positions and gave the players a few moments to organise themselves.

Rafael moved toward halfway beside Hennequin.

The striker glanced across the defensive line before looking toward him.

"How are you finding it up here, Rafa?"

"Good. It’s been a busy few weeks."

"Not getting kicked about too much?"

Rafael smiled.

"Had a few."

"Yeah, that’ll happen."

Hennequin took another drink before returning the bottle to the side of the pitch.

"You’ve been playing with Mat, haven’t you?"

"Yeah. And Loïc."

"Right. Give me a shout when you’re going, then. Caron’s used to finding me short."

"Sounds good."

Hennequin gave him a brief nod before moving toward the centre circle.

Rafael followed him into position as the coach signalled for the exercise to begin.

The first attack developed through Caron, who received possession near halfway and attempted to find Hennequin between the centre-backs.

The pass arrived slightly behind him, forcing the striker to adjust his body while an opposing midfielder closed the passing lane toward Rafael.

Hennequin returned possession backwards, and Caron switched play toward Perrin, whose attempted cross was intercepted before reaching the penalty area.

Rafael recovered his position as the opposing team moved forward.

During their next possession, Hennequin checked toward Caron while Rafael moved across Vasseur’s shoulder.

The defender began following Rafael, opening enough space for Hennequin to receive and turn toward goal.

Rafael anticipated the return pass and accelerated into the channel behind Vasseur.

Hennequin took another touch instead.

Rafael had already committed himself to the run, and by the time the striker looked toward him, Vasseur had recovered his position.

Hennequin attempted the pass anyway, but the defender intercepted and cleared toward midfield.

As they jogged back, Hennequin glanced toward Rafael.

"Sorry, Rafa. Took too long with that."

"Thought you were playing it first time."

"Yeah, I saw you. Should’ve given it earlier."

Rafael nodded before returning toward the defensive line.

He had timed his run for the pass he expected, but Hennequin had chosen to carry possession instead. By the time Rafael tried to adjust, Vasseur was already turning toward the ball.

On the next attack, Rafael waited until Hennequin received before starting his movement.

The striker turned immediately and carried possession toward the penalty area, drawing a centre-back toward him. Rafael stayed outside the defender before cutting into the space Hennequin had vacated, but Caron was unable to release the next pass before the opposing midfielder closed him down.

The ball travelled wide, and Perrin’s attempted cross struck the full-back.

The exercise continued.

Several minutes later, Caron found Hennequin between midfield and defence while Rafael remained close to Vasseur.

The striker returned possession first time and turned toward goal.

Rafael recognised the opportunity and started moving across the defender’s shoulder as Caron prepared to release him.