NO FLOURISH WITHOUT FLAWS

TRAINING

"Isn't that the voice of the manager?" he mumbled.

Lavezzi turned back and sighted his manager just outside his office.

"Good morning, Pastore," he said.

Though Pastore was fuming, he acknowledged his greeting.

"Lavezzi, I want to see you in my office right now," Pastore angrily said.

"Definitely I'd be queried for my lateness. What excuse can I give?" he murmured before entering into the building.

Pastore's office was located on the last floor. Instead of using the elevator, he opted to use the stairs just to get some ample time to think of the perfect excuse. Eagerly expecting his presence, Pastore left his door half-open. Lavezzi walked in. All hell was let loose.

"Don't you know we have the game of our lives tomorrow? Why have you turned up late to training?" Pastore barked while banging his fist simultaneously on the table.

"I'm sorry. I woke up with a migraine this morning."

"Another flimsy excuse. How am I supposed to believe you? You're notorious for coming late to trainings. I'm gradually getting fed up with this silly attitude of yours."

"I'm dead serious. Believe me."

"If that truly happened, why didn't you inform the medical department or me?"

"Ehmm... ehmm... I..."

"Just shut up! I'm not interested in hearing anymore lies."

Pastore left his rolling chair. Walked hurriedly to Lavezzi and grabbed his top.

"Listen to me carefully. I lost the championship last season because you weren't past fit to play games, especially the title decider against the eventual winners, Venezia F.C. We play them tomorrow in our first game this season; we have to get our revenge. I don't want us to only defeat them but hand them a drubbing and reclaim our title. Do you understand?" He asked, before letting go of his top.

"Absolutely. You know I always deliver when I'm on the pitch. You can always count on me."

"I know you constantly deliver on the football pitch. That's very unequivocal. But remember the league is a marathon. Not a sprint. For us to win back our title, you have to be fit and available to play games. Can you guarantee that? That's the freaking question!

For a moment, Lavezzi became speechless. He stroked his beard a couple of times like a man deeply lost in his thoughts and said, "I'll do my best to ensure I'm fit to play as many games as possible."

"Good. To stay fit, you must be a good trainer, not an ass like yourself. Enough of the talking. There's a lot of work ahead. By the way, why are you not with your snapback?

"I left them in the changing room after yesterday's training."

"Okay. Go change into your training kits immediately. Jog around the pitch like your teammates have done. I'll join the session in a bit. I'm still analyzing our opponents on my computer."

Como F.C.'s training sessions lasted two hours each day. But the magnitude of tomorrow's match made Pastore extend the training session by an hour. The intensity of the training session was unprecedented. At exactly 1.5 hours into the training session, the players were already exhausted. A pile of sweat gushed all over their bodies as they panted heavily. Their knackered state didn't go unnoticed. In his magnanimity, Pastore gave them some minutes to catch their breath. The 4-4-2 has always been Como F.C.'s signature formation. But this time, Pastore decided to switch things up. He believed having an air of unpredictability was necessary to help his team defeat the reigning champions. The 4-3-3 formation was drilled into the side after they returned from their time-off. With a consistent practice of the 4-3-3, the players became accustomed to the formation. To end the session, Pastore split the players into groups. Then a five-a-side game was played. Every player participated in the game multiple times before Pastore blasted his whistle.

"The training session is now over. But I want to address everyone before I take my leave." He said in a mild tone.

Standing at the center of the pitch, all the players and coaching staff huddled around Pastore.

"I'm generally impressed by the performances of a lot of you in today's session. If you stick to my plan, I'm sure we are going to defeat Venezia F.C. Ensure you rest well. Tomorrow's game will be intense."

Everyone dispersed to recover ahead of the D-day. But Lavezzi remained on the training pitch. He pulled off his sweaty kit. Lay shirtless on the lush green grass to enjoy the swarming breeze.

Coming out of Como F.C.'s museum located on the 3rd floor of the Maza training complex, Rosella had a panoramic view of the training pitch.

"What an amazing facility. But who's that well-built, handsome-looking man lying on the grass?" She mumbled.

Gazing at him, her glasses dropped to her nose. She adjusted it back over her eyes quickly and kept admiring him.

"I really love what I'm seeing. It's almost impossible for me to take my eyes off him. Man is so hot. I need to go strike a conversation with him immediately." She muttered.

She zipped her handbag open. Whipped out her hand mirror. Realigned her make-up. Then I entered a lift to the ground floor.

"Hello. You've been on this training pitch by yourself. Hope you don't mind me being here too. I'm Rosella. What's yours?" She asked, with a smile on her face.

"What! So you don't know me?"

"If I did, I'd have addressed you by your name. Besides, I'm a fresher who just moved into the hotel a few days ago."

"Okay. Your sin has been forgiven. I'm Lavezzi, the most popular human on this campus."

"Interesting. So I'm guessing you achieve popularity by being a footballer. Right?"

"No. But by being a great footballer and the best player in my team."

"Everyone claims to be an outstanding player until it's time to prove it on the pitch."

"Oh! You think I'm lying about my football prowess?"

"I never said that. I have to watch you play to verify your audacious claims."

"Fair enough. Tomorrow is the perfect opportunity for you to do so. My team—Como F.C.—plays Venezia F.C. by 12 P.M. Ensure you are present to watch me dazzle. Our stadium is opposite this complex."

"I'll be right there. Hopefully, I'm impressed and your team eventually wins. My belly rumbles. Is there any cafeteria around? Let's do lunch together."

"There's a cafeteria on the last floor. But I'll not be able to join you. I have to get to my hostel now. I need all the rest I could get before D-day beckons." He said, before taking his leave.

Rosella's eyes were still fixed on him until he finally exited the Maza training complex.

"Christ! He's such a narcissist. So full of himself. Well, I'm already attracted to him. I have to keep up with the pursuit till he falls in love with me. She grinned.

Spending some cash at the cafeteria didn't appeal to her anymore because of Lavezzi's absence. She opted to head back to her hostel and cook a meal. Not until late in the evening did Rosella reach her destination. Extremely tired after the intense traffic kept her on the road for hours, she couldn't engage in any culinary activity. She grabbed a loaf of bread. Spread a few spoons of peanut butter on some slices and enjoy it with a chilled soda. After a little rest on the sofa, she cleaned her makeup-filled face. Changed into a pink robe. Then retired to bed. By the time her eyes opened again, the D-day had arrived.