Chapter 401: Chapter 7: Looking For A Home II
"Away matches are not about chasing every chance to win the ball," Ten Hag said while pointing at the space Demien had nearly vacated. "Sometimes the correct action is to deny the next pass and force them wide. Patience, not aggression."
Demien nodded because the instruction made sense.
The drill resumed so on the next repetition he held his position instead of jumping, and Tottenham’s simulated attack was forced backward while Casemiro glanced at him with quiet approval.
The system completed.
「PREP COMPLETE」
«Recoveries/interceptions: 5»
«Positional discipline: Maintained»
«Session completed»
«+10 TP»
«+5 SP (direct instruction)»
«Balance: 573 TP | 341 SP | 783 MP»
Ten Hag wasn’t ignoring him—he was shaping him.
Thursday Afternoon, August 17, 2023 — Residential Area Near Carrington — 3:00 PM BST
After training Demien continued house hunting with Helen.
The third property in Alderley Edge was beautiful though too exposed because the road had too much visibility, and the layout felt more like a statement than a home, so Demien didn’t need long to reject it.
The final house was quieter.
It wasn’t small yet it wasn’t ridiculous either—gated entrance, good security, enough privacy, a clean garden, a garage, space for a private gym and recovery room, plus a guest suite his mother could use when she visited.
The drive to Carrington was reasonable while the neighborhood felt calm rather than performative.
Demien walked through this house more slowly than the others because something about it felt different. He checked the kitchen where natural light filled the space, the bedroom that overlooked the garden, the room that could become his training space, then the guest room where he imagined his mother standing by the window.
He pictured coming back after late matches without feeling like the house was performing for anyone.
Marco noticed he’d gone quiet. "What are you thinking?"
"This one makes sense," Demien said.
Helen explained the price with security details with the purchase process, and Demien didn’t commit instantly though he turned to Marco.
"Begin checks and negotiation."
Marco raised an eyebrow. "Sure you don’t want to see more?"
"I can," Demien said. "But I already know the difference."
The other houses looked expensive while this one felt usable, and that distinction mattered more than any feature list.
This was the first serious step toward building a life in Manchester.
Thursday Night, August 17, 2023 — Manchester Restaurant — 7:30 PM BST
That evening Demien met a smaller group for dinner—Rashford, Bruno, with Casemiro this time—at a quiet restaurant where the conversation could stay focused.
The mood was calmer than the previous dinner since Bruno talked more while Rashford stayed relaxed, though Casemiro spoke less and landed the important lines when he did.
Rashford asked while they waited for food. "Found a place yet?"
"Maybe," Demien said. "One that works."
Bruno grinned. "If it doesn’t have a room for trophies, reject it."
"Need to win them first."
Casemiro nodded once. "That’s the correct answer."
The conversation shifted to Tottenham when Bruno’s tone changed slightly. "Away matches in England change quickly. One mistake and the crowd turns."
"They’ll smell uncertainty if we start slow," Rashford added. "Spurs fans especially."
Casemiro looked at Demien directly. "Premier League tempo isn’t just speed. It’s how mistakes become chances within seconds. In Serie A you get a moment to recover. Here you don’t."
Demien listened carefully because the senior players weren’t just joking—they were teaching him the culture of the league.
"So what changes?" Demien asked.
"Your first thought has to be faster," Casemiro said. "Not your feet. Your mind. Decide before you receive."
By the end of dinner Demien felt more settled with them, yet the Spurs match felt bigger because the conversation had reframed what away pressure actually meant.
Friday, August 18, 2023 — Carrington Training Centre — 9:00 AM BST
Friday’s session was lighter though decisive because the squad would travel soon, and everyone knew the starting eleven was close to being settled.
The system activated.
「MISSION: PRE-SPURS SHARPNESS」
«Complete sharpness session»
«Create 1 clear chance in final-third drill»
«No tactical errors in team-shape rehearsal»
«+5 TP»
«+10 MP if matchday starting contention»
Demien performed cleanly throughout. In the final-third drill he spotted a narrow channel between two defenders.
「LEGENDARY SKILL ACTIVATED」
Mesut Özil — Through Ball Specialist
The pass slid through the gap with perfect weight into Rashford’s run, creating the clear chance the drill required.
During team-shape rehearsal he kept his discipline—no unnecessary pressing, no loose positioning, no tactical errors that would undo the week’s progress.
The session ended so the system confirmed.
「SHARPNESS COMPLETE」
«Clear chances: 1»
«Tactical errors: 0»
«Session completed»
«+5 TP»
«+10 MP (starting contention)»
«Balance: 578 TP | 341 SP | 793 MP»
The phrase "starting contention" mattered because it didn’t say starter—it said contention.
Demien understood the difference.
Friday Evening, August 18, 2023 — Team Travel / London Hotel — 6:00 PM BST
United traveled for the Tottenham match by train down to London, and Demien sat with headphones on though he wasn’t fully listening to music while players relaxed in different ways around him—some watched videos, some talked quietly, some slept, some checked phones.
The mood was professional because away games felt different with less comfort and more structure.
When they arrived at the hotel a few fans waited outside behind barriers, and United staff moved the squad inside quickly though some players still acknowledged the supporters.
Demien signed one shirt before following the group in.
Inside the hotel the schedule was strict—dinner, recovery check, team meeting, rest—while the starting eleven remained unannounced.
That created the tension because Demien was in contention yet Ten Hag had confirmed nothing.
At night Sophia sent a message asking if London felt different from Manchester.
Away matches feel like everyone’s waiting for something to go wrong, Demien replied.
Her response came quickly.
Then make something go right.
Demien read it once before smiling faintly, then set his phone down while looking at the match schedule on the hotel desk.
Tottenham away. Starting contention. No guarantee.
He lay in the hotel room with the lights off though sleep didn’t come immediately because his mind kept working through the week.
The Wolves assist had opened the door. Training had kept his foot inside it.
Tomorrow would decide whether Ten Hag let him walk through.
