The Greatest of all Time

Chapter 710 Grinding through the Busy Schedule

Chapter 710  Grinding through the Busy Schedule

The early October air in Liverpool had a certain crispness that signaled the arrival of autumn. The leaves had started to turn, their deep greens now edged with orange and gold, a stark contrast to the electric buzz surrounding the city's footballing heart—Anfield.

For Zachary, however, the season's changing hues were of little concern. He had far more pressing matters on his mind.

After the unsettling encounter with the phantom, Zachary had thrown himself into his football routine, hoping to drown the cryptic warnings in the relentless grind of his career.

The international break was now looming, and his next stop was Abidjan, the bustling capital of Ivory Coast, for a crucial pair of AFCON qualifiers against Central African Republic. His responsibilities for club and country weighed heavily on his shoulders, but he had no time to lose.

Zachary boarded the flight to Abidjan on Wednesday, October 10th, his mind set firmly on football. He had quickly forced thoughts of the system and the phantom to the back of his mind.

He'd been doing it for years now—moving past distractions and focusing on what mattered most. Even without the system, he was still at the peak of his physical abilities. His stats—his SSS-level physical attributes—remained intact. All he needed now was the same focus and determination that had carried him this far.

Landing in Abidjan brought with it a different kind of energy. Ivory Coast had, of course, just won the World Cup, an unimaginable feat for the small West African nation, and football fever still gripped the country.

The streets were adorned with banners of Serge Aurier, Nicolas Pépé, Wilfried Zaha, and of course, Zachary himself—heroes of the nation's historic triumph. The atmosphere was thick with pride and expectation, and Zachary felt it in every greeting, every glance from the locals as he made his way through the airport.

He trained with the Ivorian national team under the watchful eyes of Hervé Renard, the French coach who had recently guided them to the World Cup title. The team's morale was high, bolstered by the confidence that came with being champions.

But even so, the pressure was immense. Every match mattered, especially these back-to-back AFCON qualifiers. Ivory Coast needed to secure qualification for the next African Cup of Nations, and a slip-up now could jeopardize that goal.

Renard's sessions were as intense as ever, his gravelly voice barking out instructions in French as the players drilled their formations. Zachary felt right at home in the squad, slotting back into the midfield with ease, knowing that he was one of the leaders in this team.

On Friday night, October 12th, the stage was set at Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny for Ivory Coast's first clash against Central African Republic.

The atmosphere in the stadium was explosive, packed with fans eager to see their heroes in action once again. The excitement in the air was sky-high, the floodlights illuminating the field as the players emerged from the tunnel.

Kick-off was at 7:00 PM, and from the very first whistle, it was clear that Ivory Coast was in a class of its own. Central African Republic, though a determined side, couldn't match the pace, strength, and technical prowess of the World Cup champions.

Zachary, playing in his usual deep-lying playmaker role, was everywhere—dictating the tempo, intercepting passes, and spraying the ball with precision to his attacking teammates.

By halftime, Ivory Coast was already 3-0 up, with Wilfried Zaha and Max Gradel both finding the back of the net. Zachary himself had assisted the second goal with a perfectly weighted through ball that split the Central African defense apart, allowing Zaha to dart through and slot the ball past the keeper.

It was classic Zachary—calm, composed, and devastatingly effective.

In the second half, the floodgates opened. Zachary added a goal of his own in the 67th minute, driving a low shot from just outside the box after some intricate passing play between Pépé and Serey Dié. The stadium erupted as his name rang out from the stands.

By the time the final whistle blew, Ivory Coast had secured a commanding 6-0 victory. The team celebrated on the pitch, knowing they had taken a significant step toward AFCON qualification.

Zachary, drenched in sweat, couldn't help but smile. Even without the system, he was still at the top of his game.

Four days later, on October 16th, Zachary found himself in Bangui, the capital of Central African Republic. The away match had a completely different feel to it.

The Stade Barthélemy Boganda was smaller, more intimate, and the pitch was far less pristine than the one in Abidjan. The atmosphere was hostile, with local fans eager to see their team make amends for the humiliation suffered in the first leg.

The game itself was far from straightforward. Central African Republic played with a renewed sense of urgency, pressing high and making life difficult for Ivory Coast.

The physicality of the match took its toll on the players, and for the first time in a while, Zachary found himself struggling to impose his usual rhythm on the game. His passes weren't coming off as easily, and his teammates were finding it harder to break through the stubborn defense.

The match dragged on, and with each passing minute, the tension in the stadium grew. It was still 0-0 as the clock ticked into the 89th minute.

Just when it seemed like the game would end in a frustrating draw, Zachary picked up the ball deep in midfield. He drove forward, skipping past one challenge before lifting his head to spot Maxwel Cornet making a run down the left wing.

Without hesitation, Zachary threaded a perfectly timed pass through the defense, splitting two Central African defenders. Cornet latched onto the ball and, with one swift movement, curled it into the far corner of the net.

The away fans exploded into cheers, while the Central African players dropped to their knees in despair.

Ivory Coast had done it—another victory, this time a hard-fought 1-0 win that all but secured their AFCON qualification. Maxwel Cornet was mobbed by his teammates, his last-minute goal proving to be the winner.

Zachary returned to Liverpool shortly after the game, his mind still high on the two international victories. But something else lingered at the back of his mind—the phantom's warning. "Hard times are coming."

The words echoed in his thoughts, haunting him during quiet moments. He wasn't sure what they meant, but he knew that whatever was coming, he would have to face it without the system's help.

Back at Melwood, Zachary wasted no time getting back into the team routine. He trained hard with his Liverpool teammates, pushing his body to maintain his form.

Without the system's as back-up, he had to solely rely on his instincts and his physical abilities—something he had never feared before, but now, with the phantom's ominous message, he couldn't help but feel a sense of uncertainty.

The days passed quickly as the team prepared for their next Premier League clash—an away game against Huddersfield Town. Klopp, always one to manage his squad carefully, decided to rest Zachary for the match, along with a few other key players, to keep them fresh for the upcoming midweek Champions League fixture against Crvena Zvezda.

Saturday soon arrived with the usual fanfare that accompanied Premier League weekends. John Smith's Stadium in Huddersfield was packed with home fans hoping to see their team pull off an upset against the unbeaten Liverpool side.

The match kicked off at 6:30 PM, with Zachary watching from the bench. Klopp's decision to rest him was understandable—he had played two back-to-back intense matches for Ivory Coast, and the midweek Champions League game loomed large.

Still, Zachary couldn't help but feel restless. He hated sitting out, even when it was for the best.

Huddersfield started the game aggressively, pressing high and disrupting Liverpool's usual rhythm. The first 20 minutes were scrappy, with neither team able to carve out clear chances.

But in the 25th minute, Mohamed Salah, always a danger, found a moment of brilliance. A quick one-two with James Milner opened up space for the Egyptian, and he slotted the ball coolly into the bottom corner, giving Liverpool the lead.

Despite the goal, Huddersfield didn't back down. They pressed forward, looking for an equalizer, but Liverpool's defense held firm.

Zachary watched from the sidelines as Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez worked tirelessly to snuff out Huddersfield's attacks. Still, it was a tense affair, and with Jordan Henderson and Adam Lallana both picking up injuries during the game, the tension in the Liverpool dugout grew.

When the final whistle blew, Liverpool had managed to secure a gritty 1-0 win, taking their points tally at the top of the Premier League table to 27 points. The team celebrated the hard-fought victory, but the injuries to Henderson and Lallana cast a shadow over the result.

Zachary hadn't been called upon during the match, and while part of him was relieved to have a rest, another part felt a bit itchy after not stepping on the playing field. Fortunately, the looming Champions League game against Crvena Zvezda was just days away, and he would most likely be part of the starting eleven.