On the sidelines of the Amex Stadium which was starting to get quiet, Sergio Aguero stood in front of the Sky Sports camera with the Man of the Match plaque in his hand. He was still sweating, but his smile was wide after scoring the winning goal.
"Sergio, congratulations on your win in this first match, an extraordinary performance with 2 goals in the first match. How do you feel right now?" Asked Patrick Davison, Sky Sports reporter.
Aguero smiled (While holding the Man of the Match trophy) "Thank you. Yes, I'm very happy. It's always important to start the season with a goal, but the most important thing is the three points. Brighton played very disciplined, they made us work very hard for the first sixty minutes." (Aguero answered with words like he doesn't speak English very well but he did it on purpose)
Patrick: "There was a moment earlier where it felt difficult to score a goal, even Sané's shot hit the post. Did the team feel frustrated?"
Aguero: "Frustrated? Maybe a little. But Pep always tells us to stay calm and keep turning the ball around. We know if we keep pressing, gaps will appear."
Patrick: "Speaking of gaps, your stoppage-time goal was born of a moment of genius. Let's talk about the passer, William Carter. He came on for David Silva and is only eighteen years old. What did you think of his ten-minute performance just now?"
Aguero: (Smiles broadly) "Amazing. Really. He got into David's position—a very difficult position—but he played with great composure. That chip pass... wow. I was running, but I'm not sure he could see me because Duffy was marking him so tight."
Patrick: "He paid dearly for that pass. Duffy hit it just as the ball was released."
Aguero: "Yes, I saw him lying on the ground while I was celebrating the goal. It was a tough welcome from the Premier League for him. But that's William—he's got courage. He sacrificed his body for the team. If he keeps playing like that, he'll be a very important player for us this season."
"And it looks like in the next training session he will get twice as much physical training as everyone else," continued Aguero while laughing softly.
"Hahaha, yes, I know that seeing him hit by a big player really made everyone worried that he would suffer several broken bones," answered Patrick while laughing and adding some words of encouragement for the audience.
"Okay, this is over and thanks to you Aguero. Once again everyone. This is the MVP of today's match, SERGIO AGUERO," said Patrick Davison ending the MOTM interview session.
"Yes, thank you," Aguero replied before leaving to follow the Manchester City players to the visiting team's dressing room.
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The pungent aroma of essential oils and hot steam rises from the Amex Stadium locker room shower area. In one corner, William sat with his breath starting to become even. A team physiotherapist was pressing his solar plexus. William winced, but not from the crippling pain—it was more of a dull, throbbing sensation, a sign that his muscles had just been pushed beyond their limits.
"Just a normal bruise, Carter. You have denser muscle mass than you look," the physiotherapist muttered as he pressed a piece of ice wrapped in plastic to William's chest. "Tomorrow you might feel stiff, but there's nothing to worry about. You're tough too."
William just nodded, compressing his own chest. He looked at the reddish bruises on his skin. Duffy's blow was hard, but he didn't feel like he was going to break. He just felt... he had just been awakened by the reality of adult football.
The dressing room door banged. Sergio Aguero stepped in with the Man of the Match trophy in his hand, followed by the noisy sound of other players celebrating the victory.
"How's your chest, _Chico_?" Aguero asked while throwing a bottle of isotonic drink which William immediately caught with one hand. "Duffy kind of hit a wall, didn't he?"
"A little tight, Sergio. But I'm fine," answered William in a flat tone that made Kyle Walker laugh.
"Listen to him! 'I'm fine,' he said," said Walker, patting William on the shoulder.
Walker's words made the entire dressing room burst into laughter.
And William just looked at Walker with a look as if that gaze was cursing loudly at Walker.
"Oh look at him cursing at Walker with his gaze," said David Silva seeing William's sharp gaze at Kyle Walker.
Kevin de bruyne who wanted to join in the fun also said "Earlier Stephens called you a 'tofu body', but you actually made it look like an amateur. You stood back up as if the hit was nothing. I like that."
"Honestly, if it was Aguero I'm sure he would have hit Stephens straight away with a two-footed kick" Kyle Walker interrupted after Kevin De Bruyne finished his words.
This made the dressing room once again filled with laughter.
"Hey, you can't talk to a match MOTM like that," Aguero replied in a joking tone.
"But to be honest, when you make bigger and more experienced players look like amateurs, it's really a lot of a kid," Aguero said to William while patting him on the shoulder.
"And you have a good mentality because you are not provoked by his words," continued Sane who was sitting near Gabriel Jesus.
Sane actually feels uncomfortable talking now because he feels guilty about his failure to complete the opportunity, but he knows that William and the players don't really mind it either.
The new players also actually wanted to talk and lighten the mood because this dressing room felt heavy even though victory was in their hands, but the pressure of the first match was still felt here.
However, thanks to the senior players who teased William and joked several times, the air in the room felt more pleasant again and the atmosphere in the match had begun to calm down.
Vincent Kompany, who was removing his protective cover, also spoke to William. "That's the right mentality. In this league, you're going to get hit, kicked and knocked down. But as long as you can stand up and pass like that, people will start to fear you."
Suddenly, the atmosphere became calmer when Pep Guardiola entered the middle of the room. He was holding a sheet of statistical notes. His eyes scanned the room, stopping for a moment on William who was still icing his bruises, then turned to the seniors.
"A professional result. We controlled the rest of the match very well after the second goal," said Pep in a sharp but satisfied tone. "Vincent, Sergio, get ready. You come with me to the press conference. The media wants to know how we can break down Brighton's tight defense."
Pep then turned to William.
"William, you stay here. Finish your physiotherapy, and continue resting on the bus," ordered Pep. "I don't want you to talk to the media just yet. Let the media wonder about what the future holds for you. Just focus on your physical recovery. Understand?"
"Understood, Boss," answered William obediently. He actually felt relieved that he didn't have to face dozens of flashes from British journalists' cameras tonight.
After hearing William's answer, Pep turned his gaze to Sane, who was looking down due to his mistake in the match which resulted in a golden opportunity from William's brilliant pass being wasted.
"Sane, don't be too disappointed because you failed at an opportunity. But remember to fix everything that caused your failure," said Pep in a firm voice but did not scold Sane.
"Ready, Boss" Sane answered quickly with confidence and it seemed like all disappointment disappeared because no one discussed the problem where he failed to score a goal if it wasn't the coach who discussed it.
"Good," Pep gave William a short pat on the head before turning to leave with Kompany and Aguero.
After Pep Guardiola and several of the players walked to the post-match press conference, all the remaining players rested for a while and headed straight to where Manchester City's away bus was located.
William walked away with a slight wince due to the previous impact.
Sane who was walking side by side with William asked in a slightly worried tone!
"How's your condition? It looks like that impact would really finish you off if it happened more than three times."
"Yes, it's quite painful. But it's not too much pain," William answered while smiling at Sane
"You played really well today, really I still can't believe that I failed to take advantage of that opportunity" Sane replied a little wearily because if he managed to score this goal it would be his first goal of the new season and also William's first assist.
"Come on, there's no chance of scoring a goal. There are still plenty of opportunities to show ourselves, I'm sure we can play more compactly in the future," answered William confidently.
"Ohhh, you seem very confident, kid. But remember, from the boss's gaze, the physical training you will undergo is even tougher than Gabriel's," said David Silva behind them.
"Ughhh, don't remind me of things like that," replied Gabriel Jesus while holding his head remembering the physical training given by Pep Guardiola.
"Don't say it in a desperate tone like that, you'll actually make me afraid to practice tomorrow," said William while watching Gabriel Jesus' desperate movements.
The short trip brought the senior and new players closer together.
Especially the new players are a little confused about how to act towards William, because William is known as a genius from Manchester and will be the midfield leader of the England national team in the future.
This is not without reason because everyone could see him playing in the U21 World Cup a few months ago, how William led the young team of the England national team to the title and became the best player of the tournament.
They know that William is still young, but William's potential is already visible and with a little physical training to make his body and stamina stronger, William will definitely become one of the most talked about players in the world.
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Meanwhile, on the other hand, a press conference is taking place.
In the crowded Amex Stadium media room, camera spotlights from around the world dazzled the eyes. In front of a long table, Pep Guardiola sat in the middle, flanked by Vincent Kompany on the left and Sergio Aguero on the right. Dozens of journalists from England, Spain, France and the United States were ready with their recording devices.
"Okay, let's start the question and answer session," said the City media officer.
BBC Sport (England): "Pep, a very clinical three-point win. How would you rate the team's overall performance in this opening match? And we heard that when he was substituted David Silva had a slight injury, how is he now?"
Pep: (Rubbing his chin, his tone calm) "We are very happy with the three points. Brighton were very organized in the first half, it was very difficult to find space. David? He had a little pain in his hamstring, we didn't want to take any chances. But overall, the team showed great character to keep pressing until the last minute."
ESPN (United States): "Vincent, as captain, the team kept a clean sheet today. However, we saw a very physical game from Brighton. Do you feel the referee did enough to protect your creative players?"
Kompany: (Firmly) "This is the Premier League. We don't expect a red carpet. We know they will be physical. Our job is to stay on our feet and respond with football. We showed today that we can deal with physical pressure without losing the identity of our game."
MARCA (Spain): "Sergio, enhorabuena por el gol. Pregunta para ti y para Pep. Vimos al joven once, William Carter. Sustituyó a una leyenda como David Silva y dio una gran asistencia. ¿Es este chico el futuro del City?"
("Sergio, congratulations on the goal. Question for you and Pep. We saw the young number eleven, William Carter. He came on for a legend like David Silva and provided a great assist. Is this boy the future of City?")
Aguero: (Smiles and answers) "Sí, William... es genial. Tiene un 'cerebro' muy rápido. En Argentina, decimos que un jugador como él tiene pausa. Sabe cuándo sostener el balón y cuándo soltarlo. ¿Esa asistencia? Eso es de clase mundial".
("Yes, William... he's great. He's got a very fast 'brain'. In Argentina, we call a player like him having pausa. He knows when to hold the ball and when to let it go. That assist? That's world class.")
L'Équipe (France): ""Pep, le style de jeu de William Carter rappelle beaucoup celui de Zinedine Zidane, en particulier ses mouvements à la roulette et sa vision du jeu. Êtes-vous d'accord avec cette comparaison ? Et pourquoi le choisiriez-vous plutôt que les joueurs plus expérimentés d'aujourd'hui ?"
Translator:"Pep, William Carter's playing style reminds many of Zinedine Zidane—especially his roulette moves and playing vision. Do you agree with that comparison? And why would you choose him over today's more experienced players?"
The atmosphere in the room suddenly fell silent. The "Zidane" question is a sensitive hot topic.
Pep: (Leaning forward, eyes sharp) "Listen, William is William. Let's not kill him with big comparisons. He's only played ten minutes in the Premier League. Zidane is one of the best of all time. William? He's just learned how to defend against giant tackles like Duffy. The talent is there, the vision is there, but he needs time. I chose him because in training sessions, he shows something I don't see in anyone else: he's not afraid."
The Athletic (England): "But Pep, he looked sore after the knock. Is he really physically ready for England's busy schedule?"
Pep: (Smiling slightly) "He walked onto the bus on his own two feet, didn't he? He's tough. He may look slim, but he's got guts. And in this league, guts are a lot more important than muscle size."
La Gazzetta dello Sport (Italy): "Pep, tatticamente William entra per David Silva, ma si muove in un modo molto diverso, scansionando di più e cercando lo spazio verticale come un moderno 'Regista'. Pensi di renderlo la copertina principale di David Silva in questa stagione, o lo vedi avere un ruolo specifico diverso?"
Translator:"Pep, tactically William comes on for David Silva, but he moves in a very different way—scanning more and looking for vertical space like a modern 'Regista'. Do you plan to make him David Silva's main cover this season, or do you see him having a different specific role?"
Pep: (Leaning back, looking thoughtful) "Listen, David is a legend, he is unique. No one can replace David Silva identically. But William... he has an interpretation of space that is very rare for a player of his age. He doesn't just run, he 'wait' for the moment. Today he played as a number eight, but he can play as a ten or even deeper. His future? That depends on him. If he continues to understand the way we press without the ball, he will get a lot of minutes. But he has to remember, in this team, talent alone is only give you ten minutes. It's hard work that gets you a place in the starting eleven."
Sky Sports News (England): "After that incredible assist and physical impact, the public is now very enthusiastic. Is there a chance we will see William playing in the starting line-up in next week's home game, or would you prefer to save it to protect his physique from media and opponent pressure?"
Pep: (Smiles slightly, a little sarcastically) "Ah, you (media) always want to run before you can walk. Only ten minutes and you're already asking him to start? Calm down. He still has to learn how to have a proper breakfast with our nutrition staff, he has to learn how John Stones and Vinny (Kompany) defend in training sessions. I'm not going to 'keep him' just because I'm afraid, I'll play him if the team needs him. If he's tactically ready, he plays. It's as simple as that. But for now Here, let him enjoy his bruises and learn that the Premier League isn't always about pretty passes."
Bild (Germany): "Sie haben bei Barcelona und Bayern München viele junge Spieler hervorgebracht, die später zu Superstars der Welt wurden. Wo steht William Carter auf Ihrer Beobachtungsliste im Vergleich zu Gleichaltrigen?"
("You have produced many young players at Barcelona and Bayern Munich who later became world superstars. Where is William Carter on your watch list compared to those at the same age?")
Pep: (His face turns serious, his tone heavier) "Ich mag keine Vergleiche. Jeder Spieler hat seinen eigenen Weg im Leben. Aber ich sage eins: Es gibt Spieler, denen gibt man zehnmal Anweisungen und sie sind immer noch verwirrt, und es gibt Spieler wie William. Ich muss nur einmal sprechen, und er tut es mit einem Instinkt, der ihm angeboren ist. Er hat einen „Lernhunger". Im Training ist er der Erste, der fragt „Warum" wir einen bestimmten Schritt machen. Das ist es, was mich dazu bringt, ihm zu vertrauen. Er hat nicht nur gute Füße, er hat auch ein fußballerisches Gehirn."
("I don't like comparisons. Every player has his own path in life. But I'll say one thing: there are players to whom you give instructions ten times and they're still confused, and there are players like William. I only need to speak once, and he does it with an instinct that's as if he's been born with it. He has a 'hunger' to learn. In training sessions, he's the first to ask 'why' we do a certain move. That's what makes me trust him. He doesn't just have good feet. good, he has a football brain. And at this club, brains are everything.")
After that the media officer closed the session. Pep stood up, followed by Kompany and Aguero. Outside, the world started talking about the same name. From New York to Paris, sports headlines are starting to type the same name: William Carter, a talented young player who shined at the U21 World Cup and is starting to build his career in professional football.