The best news of the week did not come from the football pitch. It came from a landline telephone in a small house in Yorkshire.

Michael Sterling stood in his kitchen. He was holding the phone.

"I am home Michael," his mother said. Her voice was strong again. "The doctors kicked me out. They said I was arguing too much about the quality of the porridge."

Michael let out a breath he felt like he had been holding for three days.

"You are safe Mom," Michael said. "That is all that matters. Are you resting?"

"I am resting," she promised. "I am sitting in my chair. Your father is making tea. And I have the radio on. I am ready for the Tottenham game."

"We will win for you," Michael said.

"Just win," she said. "I do not care who it is for. Just do not let that Australian manager beat you. He smiles too much."

Michael laughed. He hung up the phone.

He looked at Sarah. She was sitting at the table eating a pickle. She was nine months pregnant. The baby was due any second.

"She is okay?" Sarah asked.

"She is fighting fit," Michael smiled. "She is complaining. That means she is healthy."

"Good," Sarah said. "Now go to London. Go beat Tottenham. And keep your phone on loud. If this baby decides to come during a corner kick you need to leave."

"I will have a helicopter ready," Michael joked.

"I am serious Michael," Sarah said pointing a pickle at him. "A helicopter."

THE SPACESHIP

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was not just a stadium. It was a spaceship that had landed in North London.

It was shiny. It was massive. It had a microbrewery. It had a cheese room.

Diego Nunez walked into the away dressing room. He looked confused.

"Papa Michael," Diego said. "I saw a man eating blue cheese in the tunnel. Is this a football stadium or a restaurant?"

"It is a luxury stadium Diego," Michael said. "But the grass is the same. The goal is the same size."

"I do not like it," Diego grunted. "It is too clean. I like mud. Mud tastes like battle."

"There will be no mud today," Arthur Milton said checking the pitch report. "The pitch is perfect. It is like a carpet."

Arthur looked worried.

"Spurs are fast Boss," Arthur whispered. "Ange Postecoglou plays high line. Very high line. It is brave."

"We are brave too," Michael said.

He looked at his team.

Kai Sora was putting on his sunglasses. He looked tired. The circles under his eyes were dark.

"Kai," Michael said walking over. "How are the legs?"

"The legs are there Boss," Kai said quietly. "They are heavy. But they work."

"We need you today," Michael said. "You are the glue. Endrick is playing deeper. You need to guide him."

"I will be his sensei," Kai nodded. "I will teach him the way of the shadow."

THE KICKOFF

The game started at a frantic pace.

Tottenham did not defend. They attacked. They threw everyone forward.

Maddison. Son. Kulusevski. They swarmed around the Barnsley box like wasps.

Minute 10

Son Heung Min got the ball on the wing. He ran at Pavard.

Son was fast. He went left. He went right. He shot.

Jan Visser dived. The giant goalkeeper pushed the ball wide.

"Wake up!" Jan roared. "They are fast!"

Minute 20

Barnsley struggled to get the ball. The new tactic with Endrick in midfield was being tested.

Endrick was trying. The Brazilian wonderkid was running back. He was chasing Bissouma. He was tackling Sarr.

"Good Endrick!" Michael shouted from the touchline. "Work hard!"

Endrick won the ball near the center circle. He looked up.

He saw Victor Osimhen making a run.

Endrick played a long pass.

Osimhen chased it. He was one on one with Romero.

The two titans clashed. Romero pulled Osimhen shirt. Osimhen pushed Romero away.

The referee waved play on.

Osimhen shot. But he was off balance. The ball hit the side netting.

"Close!" Arthur shouted jumping up. "The counter attack is on!"

THE TRAGEDY

Minute 35

The game was end to end. It was like a basketball match. You attack. We attack.

James Maddison picked up the ball for Tottenham. He turned. He looked for a pass.

Kai Sora saw the danger.

The Japanese midfielder started to sprint. He needed to close down the space.

He ran five yards. Then ten.

And then it happened.

It was not a tackle. Nobody touched him.

Kai Sora suddenly stopped. He grabbed the back of his leg.

He fell to the ground.

He did not scream. Kai Sora never screamed. He just lay there face down in the perfect grass.

His sunglasses fell off and slid away.

The stadium went silent.

Michael felt a cold stone in his stomach.

"No," Michael whispered. "Not him. Anyone but him."

The physio ran onto the pitch.

Diego Nunez ran over. He stood over his friend. He looked like a guard dog protecting his owner.

"Kai?" Diego asked softly. "Get up brother. The battle is not over."

Kai rolled over. He took his arm off his eyes.

He looked at Michael on the sideline.

He shook his head.

"He is done," Arthur said his voice cracking. "Hamstring. It snapped Boss. I heard it."

The stretcher came out.

The fans applauded as Kai was carried off. He held his sunglasses in his hand. He looked devastated.

THE ADJUSTMENT

Michael had to think fast.

The glue was gone. The engine was broken.

"What do we do Boss?" Arthur asked in panic. "We do not have another Kai. We have attackers. We have defenders. We do not have a metronome."

Michael looked at the bench.

He saw Leo Stone. The Phantom.

"We change," Michael said. "We go bold."

SUBSTITUTION

OFF: Kai Sora (Injured)

ON: Leo Stone

"Leo goes to number 10," Michael ordered. "Endrick drops to number 8. Tell Endrick he has to run double now. For Kai."

THE SECOND HALF

The mood in the dressing room at halftime was grim.

0 to 0. But they had lost a brother.

Diego Nunez was angry.

"The grass is cursed," Diego growled. "It took Kai. I will destroy the grass."

"Do not destroy the grass Diego," Ramos said. The veteran captain was serious. "Win the game. For Kai."

"For Kai," Osimhen repeated adjusting his mask. "We win."

The second half began.

Barnsley played with fury.

Endrick was everywhere. He was running like he had three lungs. He was tackling. He was passing. He was dribbling.

He was playing for the fallen soldier.

Minute 60

Tottenham were tiring. Their high line was risky.

Leo Stone got the ball.

The Phantom turned. He saw the space.

He saw Victor Osimhen pointing.

Leo played a through ball. It was beautiful. It cut the Tottenham defense in half.

Osimhen ran onto it.

He was clear.

Vicario the Tottenham goalkeeper came out.

Osimhen did not shoot. He saw Endrick sprinting to his right.

Osimhen squared the ball.

It was unselfish. It was a gift.

Endrick had an open goal.

He tapped it in.

GOAL.

Barnsley 1. Tottenham 0.

Endrick did not celebrate with a dance. He did not do a backflip.

He ran to the camera. He lifted his shirt. Underneath he had written a message on his vest with a marker pen.

FOR KAI.

Diego Nunez ran over and hugged him.

"Good boy," Diego said. "Good family."

THE SIEGE

Minute 80

1 to 0.

Tottenham threw the kitchen sink at Barnsley.

Richarlison came on. Werner came on.

They attacked in waves.

But the Barnsley defense was inspired.

Sergio Ramos was a rock. He headed every cross.

Diego Nunez was a monster. He blocked a shot with his chest. He blocked a shot with his knee. He blocked a shot with his face.

"My face is iron!" Diego laughed spitting blood onto the grass. "Come on!"

Minute 90

Six minutes of added time.

"Six minutes?" Arthur cried. "Why? Did time stop?"

Tottenham had a corner.

Even the goalkeeper Vicario came up.

The ball came in.

It was a scramble.

Vicario headed it.

Jan Visser saved it.

The ball dropped.

Werner shot.

Endrick was on the line. The striker was playing as a defender.

He kicked the ball off the line.

"CLEAR!" Endrick screamed.

The ball flew up the pitch.

The referee looked at his watch.

He blew the whistle.

FULL TIME

TOTTENHAM 0 - 1 BARNSLEY

THE AFTERMATH

The players collapsed on the pitch.

It was a massive win. A title race win.

But Michael Sterling did not run onto the pitch to celebrate.

He walked straight down the tunnel. He walked to the medical room.

Kai Sora was sitting on the treatment table. He had ice strapped to his leg. He was wearing his sunglasses again.

"Boss," Kai said. "Did we win?"

"We won Kai," Michael said putting a hand on his shoulder. "Endrick scored. For you."

"Good," Kai smiled a weak smile. "Is it bad Boss?"

Michael looked at the doctor. The doctor shook his head slowly.

"It is a tear Michael," the doctor said. "Grade three. His season is over."

The room went silent.

Season over.

Kai Sora took off his sunglasses. He wiped a tear from his eye.

"I cannot play the final matches," Kai whispered. "I cannot help you win the title."

"You already helped us Kai," Michael said firmly. "You ran until you broke. You got us here. We will finish the job."

Diego Nunez burst into the room. He was still wearing his muddy kit.

He ran to Kai. He hugged him gently.

"Small brother," Diego said. "Do not cry. I will carry you. When we lift the trophy I will carry you on my back."

"You are heavy Diego," Kai laughed through the tears.

"I am strong," Diego said. "We are Misfits. We do not leave anyone behind."

THE BUS RIDE

The journey back to Yorkshire was quiet.

Usually a win at Tottenham meant a party.

But the mood was somber.

Michael sat with Arthur.

"We are second in the league now," Arthur said looking at his phone. "Liverpool lost. We are one point behind City."

"One point," Michael said.

He looked back at the seats. Kai Sora was sleeping with his leg up. Endrick was sitting next to him keeping him company.

"We paid a high price today Arthur," Michael said.

"The price of gold is always high," Arthur said wisely.

Michael looked out the window.

His mother was safe. His baby was coming. His team was winning.

But the engine was broken.

Now they had to find a way to win the title without their most important player.

"Leo Stone has to grow up fast," Michael whispered. "And Endrick has to become a man."

"They will Boss," Arthur said. "They learned from the best."

Michael closed his laptop.

Ten games left.

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