November arrived with cold rain and darker mornings. Marco woke at 5:30 AM on the first Monday of the month, his breath visible in the unheated dorm room. Tim was still asleep, bundled under two blankets. Outside, the pre-dawn darkness was absolute.
The system flickered to life as Marco sat up:
[Month 2 Training Protocol: INITIATED
Current Rating: 65.3/100
December Target: 67.0/100
Required Improvement: +1.7 points (8 weeks)
Analysis: Month 1 showed +5.3 improvement with high motivation and novelty factor.
Month 2 typically shows regression as:
- Novelty wears off
- Physical fatigue accumulates
- Mental burnout risks increase
- Weather conditions worsen
Recommendation: Increase intensity to counteract natural plateau tendency.
New training volume: +20% from Month 1 baseline
Warning: Overtraining risk at 15%. Monitor carefully.]
'Increase intensity? I'm already training three hours a day beyond team sessions.'
But the system was right. He'd felt it yesterday—that subtle shift from excited improvement to grinding routine. The thrill of seeing his rating climb had dulled. Now it was just work. Hard, repetitive, exhausting work.
'Welcome to reality,' Marco thought grimly. 'This is what the next five months look like.'
He dressed in the darkness, pulled on double layers against the cold, and headed out. The training pitch was deserted at this hour, slick with rain. He set up cones for his morning routine—one hundred cuts inside before team training started at 7:00 AM.
By the twentieth repetition, his fingers were numb. By the fiftieth, his left leg was screaming. By the eightieth, he was questioning everything.
'Why am I doing this? I hit 65. I'm off the immediate watch list. I could ease off a bit, maintain rather than push.'
But then he remembered Werner's words: 'You're not safe. March is the real evaluation.'
And deeper, darker: 'In my old life, I watched. I never played. I never tried. I got one more chance. Am I really going to waste it by being comfortable?'
Repetition eighty-one. Eighty-two. Eighty-three.
By one hundred, the system registered minimal improvement:
[Cut Inside Move: 8.6/10 (No change from last week)
Execution quality: Declining due to fatigue
Muscle fiber micro-tears: Detected (minor, will heal)
Analysis: You are approaching physical limits of improvement for this specific skill.
Diminishing returns setting in.
Recommendation: Reduce cut inside volume to 3x weekly (maintenance)
Redirect training time to weaknesses:
- Left foot finishing (5.8/10 - severe weakness)
- Stamina (7.1/10 - limits late-game effectiveness)
- Heading (5.8/10 - unused but valuable) ]
*Diminishing returns.* The phrase hit hard. He'd pushed his signature move from 7.5 to 8.6 in a month—an incredible leap. But now each session brought barely measurable gains. The low-hanging fruit was picked. Everything from here would be harder.
'Fine,' Marco thought, wiping rain and sweat from his face. 'Then I work on the weak stuff. The things I've been avoiding.'
Team training at 7:00 AM was brutal. Coach Werner had the entire U17 squad running fitness drills in the pouring rain—sprints, shuttles, endurance work. No ball. No tactics. Just suffering.
"Welcome to November, gentlemen!" Werner shouted over the downpour. "This is when we separate the committed from the comfortable! Move!"
Marco's lungs burned. His legs, already fatigued from the morning hundred repetitions, felt like concrete. Around him, other players were struggling too—even Dennis, the speed merchant, looked tired.
But Marco noticed something: Leon wasn't struggling. The 73-rated midfielder moved through the drills with mechanical efficiency, his breathing controlled, his pace steady.
'That's the difference,' Marco realized. 'That's what 73 looks like. He can handle this. I'm barely surviving it.'
After an hour of conditioning, Werner finally brought out the balls. "Small-sided games. Four-on-four. Winners stay on. Move!"
Marco's team—him, Tim, and two other players—took the pitch against Leon's group. Within thirty seconds, the gap in quality was obvious.
Leon intercepted Marco's first pass—a through ball attempt that was half a second too slow. Played it forward to his striker. Goal. 1-0.
Two minutes later, Marco tried to cut inside, but his tired legs couldn't execute the move sharply enough. Defender read it, tackled cleanly. Counter-attack. Goal. 2-0.
Five minutes in, they were down 5-0 and being subbed off. Marco walked to the sideline, chest heaving, frustration building.
The system offered cold analysis:
[Performance Rating: 4.2/10 (Poor)
Issues Detected:
- Fatigue reducing execution quality by 35%
- Decision-making slowed by 0.8 seconds (mental fatigue)
- First touch accuracy down to 72% (vs. 85% average)
- Physical stamina insufficient for high-intensity work
Analysis: Overtraining detected.
Your morning session compromised team training performance.]
*Shit.*
Sure enough, Coach Hoffmann pulled Marco aside after the session. "Reus, you looked sluggish today. Everything okay?"
"Just tired, Coach. I'll be better tomorrow."
Hoffmann's eyes narrowed. "How much extra training are you doing?"
Marco hesitated.
"Two, maybe three hours a day. Mornings and evenings."
"On top of team training and school?"
"Yes, Coach."
Hoffmann was quiet for a moment. "That's... admirable dedication. But Reus, you're fifteen years old. Your body needs recovery. If you burn yourself out now, you won't last the season, let alone until March."
"I understand, Coach, but I need to improve. March is—"
"I know what March is." Hoffmann's tone was firm but not unkind. "And I'm telling you: quality over quantity. Three hours of exhausted training is worse than one hour of focused work. Your body grows during rest, not during work. Understand?"
Marco nodded reluctantly. "Yes, Coach."
"Good. Take tonight off. No extra work. Just rest, eat, sleep. Come back fresh tomorrow."
As Hoffmann walked away, Marco wanted to argue, to protest that he couldn't afford to rest, that five months wasn't enough time, that he needed every possible hour of training.
But the system's analysis was damning
[Coach Hoffmann Assessment: CORRECT
Your current training load:
- Team training: 2 hours/day
- School: 6 hours/day
- Individual training: 3 hours/day
- Total active time: 11 hours/day
- Sleep: 7 hours (insufficient for age 15)
- Recovery time: 6 hours (insufficient)
Calculation: You are operating at 157% of recommended training load for your age.
Consequences:
- Increased injury risk: 24% (and rising)
- Performance degradation: Already visible
- Mental burnout probability: 31%
- Illness susceptibility: High
Revised Recommendation:
Reduce individual training to 1.5-2 hours daily
Increase sleep to 8-9 hours
Include mandatory rest day: 1x weekly
This will result in BETTER improvement due to proper recovery.]
'Rest makes you better. I know that intellectually. But emotionally, it feels like giving up.'
That evening, Marco sat in his dorm room, staring at his football through the window. The rain had intensified. The training pitch was deserted, flooded in places. Every instinct screamed at him to go out there anyway, to put in the work, to not waste a single day.
Instead, he forced himself to open his schoolwork. Mathematics homework he'd been neglecting. A German literature essay due next week. The mundane reality of being a fifteen-year-old student.
Tim walked in, soaked from his own extra training session. "You're not going out?"
"Coach told me to rest."
Tim toweled off his hair. "Smart. I saw you this morning—you looked dead. When did you even sleep?"
"Five hours, maybe."
"Dude." Tim shook his head. "You're going to kill yourself. I get it—March is huge. But you can't improve if you're exhausted."
"I know. Doesn't make it easier."
"Yeah." Tim collapsed on his bed. "But think about it this way: you went from ordinary to good in four weeks. That's insane improvement. Maybe the next level don't come from working more. Maybe they come from working smarter."
'Working smarter.'
Marco pulled out his training journal and reviewed the past month's data. The numbers told a story:
*Week 1: Overall 60.0 → 61.5 (+1.5) - High energy, high improvement*
*Week 2: Overall 61.5 → 62.7 (+1.2) - Good energy, good improvement*
*Week 3: Overall 62.7 → 64.1 (+1.4) - Moderate energy, strong improvement*
*Week 4: Overall 64.1 → 65.3 (+1.2) - Declining energy, moderate improvement*
The improvement was slowing. Not because the training wasn't working, but because he was approaching the limits of what raw volume could achieve.
'Hoffmann's right. I'm grinding myself down.'
He opened the system's training interface and requested a revised plan:
[OPTIMIZED TRAINING PROTOCOL: Month 2
Philosophy: Maximum improvement through optimal recovery
Daily Structure:
- 5:30-6:30 AM: Individual technical work (1 hour)
Focus: One weakness per session, 60-80 quality reps
- 7:00-9:00 AM: Team training (2 hours)
- 4:00-5:30 PM: Individual tactical/physical work (1.5 hours)
Alternate days: Stamina / Weak foot / Heading
- 9:00 PM: Injury prevention yoga (30 min)
- 10:00 PM: Sleep (mandatory 8 hours minimum)
Weekly Schedule:
- Monday-Friday: Above schedule
- Saturday: Match day (no extra training)
- Sunday: COMPLETE REST (team requirement)
This reduces training from 3 hours to 2.5 hours daily extra.
Projected improvement: Same or better than Month 1
Injury risk: Reduced to 8%
Burnout risk: Reduced to 12%
Accept revised protocol? ]
Marco stared at the plan. Less training time. More rest. It felt wrong, like cheating, like he wasn't doing enough.
But the math was undeniable. Month 1 had been successful. This plan was based on those results, optimized for sustainability.
'Five months is a marathon, not a sprint. I need to last until March.'
"Accept," he whispered.
[Protocol Accepted.
Beginning tomorrow: Reduced volume, increased intensity, mandatory recovery.
Note: This will be harder mentally than physically.
Resting when you feel you should train requires discipline.
Trust the process. ]
The next morning, Marco woke at 5:30 and headed to the pitch. But instead of one hundred repetitions of cutting inside, he focused on his left foot finishing—sixty quality strikes with his weaker foot, each one analyzed by the system, each one deliberate.
It was harder than grinding through one hundred tired reps. Each shot required focus, adjustment, learning. But by the end:
[Left Foot Finishing: 5.8/10 → 6.0/10 (+0.2)
Note: This is faster improvement than previous week's cut inside work.
Weak points improve faster than strong points.
This is efficient development. ]
Team training at 7:00 felt different. Marco wasn't exhausted. His legs were fresh. When the small-sided games started, he was sharp—first touch clean, passes weighted correctly, decisions crisp.
His team won 5-3. He scored once and assisted twice.
Leon, after the game, jogged over. "Much better today. You looked tired yesterday."
"Adjusted my training. Coach said I was overdoing it."
"Smart. It's a long season. Can't burn out in November."
The week continued. Marco followed the revised protocol religiously. Morning: one focused hour on a weakness. Team training: full intensity, fresh legs. Afternoon: ninety minutes on stamina or tactical work. Evening: yoga and early sleep.
By Friday, the results were visible:
[Week 1 (Revised Protocol): Complete
Overall Rating: 65.3 → 66.0 (+0.7)
Skill Improvements:
- Left Foot Finishing: 5.8 → 6.3 (+0.5)
- Stamina: 7.1 → 7.4 (+0.3)
- Heading: 5.8 → 6.1 (+0.3)
- Cut Inside: 8.6 → 8.7 (+0.1, maintenance work only)
Analysis: Improvement rate matches Month 1 with 17% less training time.
Recovery optimization successful.
Physical markers: Improved (better sleep, lower fatigue indicators)
Mental state: Improved (less stress, better focus)
Recommendation: Continue current protocol..]
It's working. Less volume, same improvement. Hoffmann was right.
Saturday's match brought the real test. Regional youth tournament—first round. Dortmund U17 vs. Stuttgart U17. Scouts in attendance. The chance to showcase improvement.
Marco started on the left wing. The system activated match mode:
[MATCH ANALYSIS: Active
Opponent: Stuttgart U17 (Estimated quality: Above average)
Expected difficulty: 7.5/10
Your role: Create chances, exploit left channel
Scouts present: 3 identified (Bayern, Schalke, VfB Stuttgart)
Performance target: 7.8/10 minimum
Stakes: High (scouting exposure) ]
The match started at a frantic pace. Stuttgart pressed high, aggressive, physical. Their right back was quick and smart, cutting off Marco's first two attempts to cut inside.
He's studied me. Knows my move.
So Marco adapted. Third time he got the ball, instead of cutting inside, he went outside—using his weaker left foot, pushing the ball down the line. The defender, expecting the cut, was wrong-footed. Marco crossed—Dennis at the back post, header, goal.
1-0.
Assist: 7.9/10
Tactical Adaptation: 8.3/10 (Recognized defender had prepared for signature move)
Weak Foot Usage: 6.5/10 (Functional)
Scouts noticed: Adaptability and intelligence
In the thirty-fourth minute, Marco received the ball deeper, near midfield. Stuttgart's defense was organized, compact. No obvious passing lanes.
But Marco saw it—Leon making a curved run from central midfield into the right half-space. Not an obvious pass. A thread-the-needle through ball.
Marco played it with the outside of his right foot, disguised, weighted perfectly. Leon ran onto it, drove forward, shot from the edge of the box—saved by the keeper, but the chance created.
Coach Werner on the sideline: "Ausgezeichnet, Marco!" Excellent!
Through Ball: 8.8/10 (High difficulty execution)
Vision: 8.7/10 (Spotted run early)
Scouts noticed: Elite passing vision
Halftime: 1-0. Marco had been involved in everything good about Dortmund's attack. One assist, two key chances created, ninety-two percent passing accuracy.
Second half, Stuttgart equalized in the fifty-sixth minute. 1-1. The game opened up. Both teams chasing a winner.
Seventy-third minute: The moment that mattered.
Marco received the ball on the left, thirty yards from goal. Two defenders closed in. Instead of cutting inside—they expected it—or going outside—they were ready—he did something unexpected.
He took one touch forward, drawing both defenders, then played a first-time through ball with his left foot, splitting the defense and finding Phillipe's run.
Phillipe was through on goal. One touch to control. Finish. 2-1.
The bench exploded. Marco's teammates mobbed Phillipe, but Leon found Marco first:
"That pass was amazing! Left foot, first time, perfect weight!"
[Assist #2: 9.0/10 (Exceptional)
Left Foot Usage: 7.1/10 (Significant improvement visible)
Decision Making: 9.2/10 (Optimal choice under pressure)
#PERFORMANCE ALERT:
Scout attention level - VERY HIGH]
Multiple scouts made immediate notes
Final whistle: 2-1. Dortmund through to the tournament quarterfinals. Marco had two assists, created four chances, completed thirty-eight of forty-two passes. Man of the match.
As he walked off the pitch, a man in a suit approached Coach Werner, gesturing toward Marco. Werner nodded, made notes. The scout—Bayern Munich's badge visible on his jacket—watched Marco for another moment, then left.
In the locker room, the mood was euphoric. Dennis clapped Marco on the back. "Dude, you were everywhere today. That second assist? Pure class."
Tobias laughed. "Bayern scout couldn't stop writing. You're going to get calls."
But Marco was already thinking ahead. 66.0 overall now. One more point ahead of schedule. But that scout—I can't get distracted. March is still three and a half months away.
The system agreed:
[TOURNAMENT MATCH 1: SUCCESS
Performance Rating: 8.7/10 (Excellent)
Overall Rating: 66.0 → 66.4 (+0.4 for exceptional performance)
Scout Interest: Detected and increasing
- Bayern Munich: High interest
- Schalke: Moderate interest
- Stuttgart: Monitoring
December Target: 67.0/100
Current: 66.4/100
Remaining: +0.6 points (4 weeks)
Status: AHEAD OF SCHEDULE
Continue protocol. Success breeds complacency.
Avoid complacency.]
That night, Marco lay in bed, body aching pleasantly, mind clear. The revised training protocol was working. The focus on weaknesses was paying off. The improvement was sustainable.
One month down, five to go. 66.4 rating now. Need 68-70 by March. I'm on pace. Actually ahead of pace.
But he refused to relax. Couldn't afford to.
Tim's breathing from the other bed was steady, deep. Outside, November wind rattled the windows. The season was deepening. The real cold was coming. December would be brutal—short days, frozen pitches, the temptation to train indoors where it was comfortable.
Can't take shortcuts, Marco thought. Comfortable is the enemy. Comfortable is how the old Marco Reus got released.
He pulled out his journal one final time:
Week 5 (Month 2, Week 1)
- Rating: 66.4/100 (ahead of schedule)
- Revised protocol: SUCCESSFUL
- Match performance: 8.7/10 (2 assists, scouts noticed)
- Key learning: Quality > Quantity
- Right foot improving (6.3 now)
- December target: 67.0
- Status: On track
15 weeks to March. Keep grinding.
He closed the journal, set his alarm for 5:30 AM, and forced himself to sleep.
Tomorrow would bring another training session. Another incremental improvement. Another small step toward the goal.
The marathon continued. But for the first time since arriving in this impossible situation, Marco felt like he understood the race.
Not a sprint. A marathon. Pace yourself. Trust the process. Rest when needed. Push when fresh. Quality over quantity.