The goal just left all the spectators with awe, like they couldn't believe what just happened. But the one who felt most disbelieving was Marco himself.
Because he knew himself more than anyone, he knew where his skills lay and how to use it effectively in any circumstances. But what he did just felt like beyond his ability, just like something divine was assisting him.
It's not that he cannot replicate this goal with his skills. In Fact he felt he could do it again. But what mesmerized was the sheer smoothness with which he executed the whole sequence. It was not a skill. He knew that much. No skill could explain it.
It was more like using the skills he had more effectively with more certaininty—he was in a special state where the second move naturally followed the first. His thoughts were running so much faster and without leaving room for any distracting thoughts.
But he couldn't ponder much about it at this time, because he is in the midst of a match. Dortmund was leading now with a score 2-1, and they needed to capitalise on this opportunity.
The rest of the match was not the intense back and forth between two equal powers like before, but a one sided show. A wonder goal has more effect on the match than ordinary goals. The psychological blow it gaves the opponent much more than a regular goal.
Hoffenheim, even though they are the current black horses in the entire German football, it lacked the strong foundation that a true traditional powerhouse possesses. This is one of the hidden advantages every top club posseses—they are not easily startled by setbacks. It is fueled by their long term momentum and an intangible belief that they can dominate any stage and overcome any setbacks.
Marco was also brimming with confidence after that goal.
73rd minute: this time Marco dropped deep to collect the ball. He played a one-two with Kehl, who threaded the ball into the free space down the wing.
Now Marco had yards of free space in front of him and defenders chasing after him. With explosive pace, he went down the wing, carrying the ball and was yards away from an opponent player.
Seeing him approach with the ball, the goal keeper resolutely abandoned the goal and rushed to the front. Marco scanned for options. Surprisingly he chose not to attempt for the goal himself and chose to pass the ball parallel to Tinga, who somehow kept up the pace with him and was free.
He didn't waste the easy chance, pushing the ball into the net with a careful and slow shot.
GOAL! 3-1 Dortmund!
The Brazilian slid on his knees, dreadlocks flying in the air. Marco reached him fast and tackled him into the ground. Soon the team mates also joined the fun. At this point, the game has already been decided. Not to mention the goal difference of two, the opponent has already given up. At this point all they had to do was hold on to this lead.
As expected, there were no more surprises in the match.
Final whistle: Dortmund 3, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim 1. They are through to the semi-finals.
* * *
Late at night, he was already at his bed. For athletes like him, sleep is an important routine of daily lives. Don't underestimate the importance of it, because it directly affects the post match recovery and maintaining of physical fitness.
After all the noise such as post match interviews, congratulation for player of the match award, and regular post match pep talk by Klopp, he finally got some free time for himself.
He first checked his system and was met with a barrage of notification. Unlike when he started, he doesn't check notifications at match time, because it can interrupt his immersion. But there are also times when he actively seeks advice from the system during a match.
Unknowingly as his career progressed, his reliance on the system is becoming less and less.
System notification flickered in his vision:
[SKILL MASTERY ACHIEVED]
[Cut Inside Move: 9.9/10 → 10/10 - MAXIMUM PROFICIENCY]
[PERFECT EXECUTION]
[This technique has reached its maximum potential. No further upgrade is possible.]
[Note: This is the foundation of your game. Your signature. Your identity.]
Marco stared at the notification. 10/10. Perfect mastery. He was not surprised by this outcome. But he undoubtedly became happy.
He had been obsessing over achieving perfection for over a week, plus the years of constant grinding efforts behind it, it would be unnatural if he is not happy. Infact during that special moment in the game, he was almost sure he had achieved a major breakthrough, now the notification just confirmed it.
Thinking about the unknown future ahead, he was filled with anticipation.
* * *
Two days after the matchday, Marco resumed his training routine. The day after the matchday is usually focused on the recovery training, without doing much of any hard work. For Marco who has been eagerly waiting to try out his perfected skill in training, it was torture.
But he had been warned against doing hard training by both the coaching staff and the system itself. So he could only bury his impatience in the heart and wait for the next day.
During the whole time, he had been pondering over that special goal he had scored in the last match. Something inside him told me that it was not just the skill itself, but there was something more. The system neither confirmed or denied about it, which baffled him even more.
Clearly the system had no hand in this. It was something different. He thought back to it.
In that moment, it had been just the instinct, the muscle memory of all the hard training that he had accumulated. Now in the training ground he wanted to understand it even more, more deeper. And he hoped to find a way to replicate it.
It was the early morning session. There was some time before the rest of the team mates arrived and the session started. Marco as usual carried a bag of balls and some cones.
He set up the scenario: cones as defenders, and with ball at his feet his aim was to replicate the goal and relive that special feeling he encountered at that time.
And with all the setup completed, he began.