Free Web NovelChapter 403: Chapter 9: Tottenham Away II
Winning The Second Ball
Tottenham tested him physically within his first minute because that was what aggressive teams did to substitutes.
A loose ball dropped near midfield when a Tottenham player came in hard expecting the new signing to back away from contact.
Demien met it instead.
「LEGENDARY SKILL ACTIVATED」
Arturo Vidal — Warrior Spirit
His body lowered into the challenge while his shoulder absorbed the impact, then he held his ground through the contact before knocking the ball into Casemiro’s path before Tottenham could swarm him.
「STATS ACTIVE」
Strength: 81 | Aggression: 80
The action was small though important because it killed Tottenham’s pressure at the source rather than letting it build.
Three minutes later Tottenham tried breaking again after a United attack collapsed in their final third, and the ball was played toward a runner sprinting into the inside channel.
「LEGENDARY SKILL ACTIVATED」
N’Golo Kanté — Everywhere at Once
Demien’s read sharpened so he cut across before the pass reached the runner, then intercepted cleanly while turning the loose ball into United possession.
"That’s twice now Walter has won the physical battle in midfield," the commentator observed. "He hasn’t come on to play pretty passes—he’s come on to compete for the second phase, which is exactly what United were missing."
The match’s physical rhythm shifted because Tottenham could no longer count on winning every loose ball.
6:50 PM BST — Regaining Control
Demien began linking the midfield without trying to dribble through everyone, since he positioned himself between Casemiro and Bruno giving United an extra outlet after recoveries.
During one long transition sequence the engine activated.
「LEGENDARY SKILL ACTIVATED」
Claudio Marchisio — Balanced Engine
He covered the inside lane when Tottenham countered, received under pressure when United won it back, released the ball quickly, then immediately moved forward to support the next phase, and his movement gave United balance on both sides of the ball that hadn’t existed before.
When Tottenham shifted too heavily toward Bruno’s side chasing the ball, Demien received from Casemiro with space opening on the opposite flank.
「LEGENDARY SKILL ACTIVATED」
Paul Pogba — Long Switch Flair
His right foot wrapped around the ball striking a diagonal that traveled fifty yards through the air, and the switch dropped perfectly onto Rashford’s chest on the far flank turning Tottenham’s press into open space.
「STATS ACTIVE」
Long Passing: 87 | Vision: 81
Rashford controlled before driving into the box where his shot forced a strong save from the Tottenham goalkeeper.
This was Demien’s first created chance, which showed a different weapon than the Wolves match—not a narrow threaded pass but a huge switch that broke the entire defensive shape open.
"What a ball that is from Walter!" the commentator said. "Fifty yards, perfect weight, completely flips the pitch. Tottenham had everyone on one side and he’s punished them."
_____
Seventy-third minute United sustained pressure when Tottenham cleared a cross, but the ball dropped outside the box where Demien was already positioned because he’d read the second ball early.
A Tottenham midfielder rushed out to close him down.
「LEGENDARY SKILL ACTIVATED」
Johan Cruyff — Turn Innovator
The turn wasn’t a flashy trick—just a short sharp body shift that opened the shooting lane while the defender overcommitted by half a step.
That half-step was enough.
「LEGENDARY SKILL ACTIVATED」
Dipping Power Shot
Demien struck through the ball cleanly so it rose like a normal long shot toward the top corner, then dipped violently under the goalkeeper’s reach in the final yard before crashing into the net.
「STATS ACTIVE」
Long Shots: 89 | Shot Power: 82
Tottenham 1-1 Manchester United
The away end exploded while the commentary lost control for a moment.
"DEMIEN WALTER! OH WHAT A STRIKE! The dip on that ball is outrageous! He assisted on his debut against Wolves and now he’s scored his first Premier League goal away from home! The nineteen-year-old has done it again from the bench!"
The second commentator was equally stunned. "That’s a world-class finish. The technique to make the ball dip like that under pressure—remarkable composure for someone so young in a hostile away ground."
Bruno reached him first grabbing both shoulders, then Rashford arrived, though Casemiro pulled him back toward the halfway line.
"Not finished," Casemiro said while tugging his shirt. "We can win this now."
=====
After the equalizer United looked more balanced because Tottenham no longer dominated the second balls as easily.
Demien completed another recovery when a loose ball broke in midfield, then used Marchisio’s engine again to support the counter while pushing forward into space.
Eighty-fourth minute he received near midfield where he saw Bruno pulling one defender wide while Rashford curved his run behind another, and instead of forcing a shot from distance he played a disguised progressive pass into Bruno’s path.
Bruno laid it off first-time so Rashford got his chance from twelve yards, though the goalkeeper saved low to his right with a strong hand.
United almost won it.
"So close to a winner!" the commentator said. "Walter again at the heart of it—the disguised pass set the whole move up. United have completely turned this match around since he came on."
Full Time
The final whistle came with the score still level.
FULL TIME:
Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Manchester United
United were frustrated because they’d had the late chance to win, yet the draw felt like a rescued result since Tottenham had controlled the match completely before Demien came on. freēwebnovel.com
The system appeared.
「MATCH COMPLETE」
«Appearance: Substitute»
«Minutes: 35»
«Midfield duels/recoveries: 6»
«Progressive passes/switches: 4»
«Clear chances created: 1»
«Momentum shift: Achieved»
«+60 MP»
«BONUS: Goal scored away»
«+5 SP»
«Balance: 578 TP | 346 SP | 853 MP»
Demien read the panel once before letting it fade, because the numbers mattered though the goal mattered more.
He’d now changed two matches from the bench.
Team Bus
The mood on the bus was mixed because a draw away at Tottenham wasn’t a bad result, yet the players knew they’d been outplayed for an hour before the substitution rescued them.
Demien sat near the back scrolling his phone where the post-match coverage had already started, and he found the clip of Ten Hag’s press conference.
A reporter asked the obvious question. "Demien Walter has now changed two matches from the bench. Why isn’t he starting?"
Ten Hag stayed calm in the clip. "Talent is not the same as readiness. He is learning the league. When he is ready to do this for ninety minutes, he will start. Not before."
Demien watched it once without getting angry because he understood what Ten Hag was doing—the manager was building him deliberately rather than throwing him in before he’d absorbed the league’s demands.
The Wolves assist had opened the door while the Tottenham goal forced it wider, yet the starting shirt still hadn’t been handed to him.
He set the phone down before looking out into the dark London traffic that crawled past the window.
If Ten Hag wanted repeat proof, he’d keep giving it until the bench no longer made sense.
