20 May 2014
"Get lost, Balde. The coach will be here soon. Go to the stands." Eric Garcia shoved Balde out of the dressing room. Alejandro Balde was Jordi's age and was playing with the Alevín A side right now. Still above his age group, but a level below his friends. That said, the energetic boy was more hyped for today's match than his friends, who were actually playing.
"Don't mess up, Eric. Break a leg, Ombreta!" Balde ran out just as Coach Denis Silva walked in.
"Ok, Boys! Full attention now, please. Play your hearts out today. These are the types of matches that define your career paths. We discussed the tactics yesterday, now you go out and enjoy. Coach Bernardo will announce the lineup now. Good Luck, Boys! Visca Barca!"
Starting XI
1- David Juno, GK
2- Sergi Martínez, RB
4- Eric Garcia, CB
5- Oscar Mingueza, CB
18- Xavi Quintillà, LB
8- Jordi Lloret, CDM [C]
6- Riqui Puig, CM
15- Alex Carbonell, CM
11- Jordi Escobar, RW
9- Abel Ruiz, ST
20- Dani Morer, LW
…
After shaking the hands of the Real Madrid team, the Barcelona youngsters formed a huddle, all looking towards their captain. Jordi took a good look at every player in the circle before he spoke.
"This is it, boys. We stay patient, we circulate the ball, and we always run back to defend. Most importantly, we trust our teammates, always." Jordi clapped his hands to disband the huddle, "Visca Barca!"
…
"FWHEE"
The RM striker kicked the game off with a pass to his defence. The Barca attackers pressed forward in a surging wave. Riqui Puig and Alex Carbonell, in the midfield, were not far behind while Jordi jogged after them. Under pressure, the ball came to the goalkeeper, who booted it.
Jordi was the first to position himself and cushioned the ball with the outside of his left foot. He took small touches to carry the ball past the RM striker before passing it back to Mingueza. Jordi's first action was an elegant display of calm and control that hinted at what was to come.
6'
Since kick-off, the Barcelona youngsters were dominating possession and circulating the ball quickly. Under Jordi's direction, they were patiently progressing the ball. However, against the run of play, Riqui Puig sent a wayward pass across the Barca goal, which was intercepted by Juanmi, the RM striker.
Juanmi found himself one-on-one against the advancing Juno, but did not panic. He curved the ball around the keeper and into the bottom right of the goal.
The Los Blancos were ecstatic, and why would they not be?
0-1
Jordi grimaced when the ball went in, but quickly recovered his calm. He walked over to Puig and slapped his back, "Let's go. You'll help us win now, right?"
He then looked around and clapped to hasten the team back into kickoff position. Jordi, a leader of few words, was rallying his team to fight again.
35'
Barca had dominated the first half hour of play so far. They had threatened the goal on several occasions thus far, but it was never meant to be. Jordi Lloret was all over the pitch, playing as a box-to-box midfielder rather than a pivot now. He was carrying the ball and breaking the lines, but no one had been able to finish the chances he created. Real Madrid were carrying out an effective deep block that the Barca players were struggling with.
The last chance of the half was deflected in the box as the referee blew the whistle. The frustration among the Barca players walking back to the dugout was palpable.
"Vamos, guys. We still have another half after this. Be patient, be patient. Don't attack with every ball." Jordi beckoned his players to collect themselves as he sat down on the bench.
Coach Denis entered the dugout and began a long-winded speech to raise the team's morale. Jordi closed his eyes and knelt his head against the wall. He was tired and sore, but he had to continue. He needed to see this through and help Barca win.
…
As the players returned to the pitch, Coach Denis put an arm around Jordi and spoke, "Jordi, abandon the pivot. The team needs your penetration against the low block. I want you to roam around in the 10 position."
Jordi nodded his understanding and jogged to his position for the kick-off. He scanned the other half, his eyes sharp and his posture straight. It was time for a remontada!
"FWHEE"
From the onset, Barcelona played with more composure and clear intent. The wingers were dropping deep, and the midfield duo had joined the striker in the box. However, it was the #8 with the captain's armband that never left the spectators' sight. He would always be available as the free man for his teammates. All the loose balls and 50/50 chances, he was there to contest for them. Multiple Real Madrid players kept trying and failing to even come close to him. Jordi Lloret was everywhere and nowhere at once. As Coach Denis Silva spectated at the touchline, he recalled what Jordi's friend had called him before the game.
Ombreta, Little Shadow. What an apt name!
The ombreta, fading in and out of the shadows, eluding his opponents at every turn. The little shadow that would eclipse every other star in football history.
...
48'
Real Madrid cleared the ball after another save from their goalkeeper. It fell to Eric in defence, who had plenty of time to collect the ball and pass it to Jordi, who had run back to receive it. The Los Blancos did not press, choosing to reorganise themselves into a low block. Freed of any pressure, Jordi casually carried the ball while scanning and analysing all the variables around him.
22 yards from the goal, Jordi stopped the ball and rolled it to his right. Seeing this, the two RM strikers left their line to rush Jordi, but it was too late. Jordi hit the ball with the inside of his right foot with the power and control of a veteran striker. The spectators, the players, and the staff alike all sucked in a deep breath as the ball left Jordi's boot. It rose, rose, and then it dipped, curling left viciously. In the deafening silence, the ball curved into the top right of the goal, kissing the post on its way in.
1-1!
The Blaugrana team all ran to their captain to celebrate, but Jordi just waved them away. He sprinted into the goal, picked the ball up, and jogged back to the kick-off spot. The message was clear. Jordi Lloret and FC Barcelona were not here to settle for anything less than a win.
…
63'
Real Madrid's shape did not change much after the equaliser. One of their strikers was now prowling near the halfway line to latch on to clearances. Other than that, it seemed that they were willing to wait the game out and decide it on penalties. FC Barcelona, however, reinvigorated by the goal and substitutions, was relentless in its attack.
Jordi Lloret was drifting in and out of pockets on the field, a constant threat to RM. Eric Garcia, who had gratefully accepted the assist attributed to him, headed another Madrid clearance to Jordi. Again, Jordi was afforded too much space. He ran forward with the ball and found himself in front of the defensive block, around 25 yards from the goal. Every boy in white was alerted, and three different players ran out to block Jordi. The remaining back line shifted to cover any angle Jordi could shoot at.
Mirroring the first goal, Jordi gave one final touch to the ball and took shape to shoot. As he planted his left foot next to the ball, three RM players, at various distances to him, jumped to block the shot. The goalkeeper and the defence all stared at the ball. The anticipated shot… Well, it never came.
The inside of Jordi's right boot met the ball. The ball travelled below the aerial-bound players and through the white shirts to find the feet of Riqui Puig. Puig did not understand how he ended up with the ball, but he acted quickly to score from 4 yards away. Goal!
As Puig ran off to celebrate, he realised no one was following him. All the boys were rushing towards Jordi. Slightly embarrassed, but too happy to care much, Puig also ran towards his captain.
2-1!
The remaining 7 minutes plus added time was quiet despite the RM kids leaving everything on the field. Most spectators were still thinking about the assist by Barca's captain, but the trained eyes were even more impressed by the composure and skill of the kid afterwards. The Real Madrid team, all bigger and stronger than him, gave their all but could not dispossess him. Jordi operated in minute pockets of space to receive and deliver the ball. When carrying the ball, he attracted pressure and escaped every time, escaping his opponents' grasp as a flickering shadow.
"FWHEE"
The final whistle was a trigger for Jordi. He collapsed on the ground and lay there gasping for breath. It was a peaceful and solitary moment impregnated by a feeling of contentment and joy.
Under Jordi's captaincy, his Barcelona won the El Clasico and the LaLiga Futures U14 tournament with it. As his teammates came over to fall over him and celebrate, he closed his eyes and smiled. He hoped his Uncle recorded his goal, so he could show it to Señor Garcia and Madam Sofia and…