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[Friday 16/08/2019, 19:10, Leverkusen]
Rakim had now spent a whole week in Leverkusen getting fully acclimated to the German city and his new team. Most days started as early as 5:30am which saw him go through his stretch routine and mental stimulation which consisted of him reading a book while going through the exercises. Around 6am he'd get to spend an hour in the pool pushing himself trying to get his muscles working with various water exercises.
His water exercises were finished off with a 10 minute Ice plunge which had become routine for him over the years. 20 minutes were his only free time in the morning which was the time between his cold plunge and breakfast. That would usually be when he would meet May for the morning who had no intentions of getting up before 6am.
From 7:30 to 9:30 he was free, and he spent it with his girlfriend joining her in whatever activity she happened to be doing that morning. It was his way of trying to make time for her and he genuinely didn't mind it as it allowed him to unwind and forget training for a while. Since he had managed to convince her to stay in Germany with him, he wanted to make her feel as comfortable as possible.
That was the only respite he got during work days which were Monday to Saturday in his eyes as from 9:30 to 19:00 he'd be at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre grinding his heart out. The strength and conditioning coach Gunter had made making him Bundes Liga ready, his personal pet project. Especially after noticing that the 16-year-old winger pushed himself to the brink completing any exercises he laid out for him.
The fact he refused to lift weights didn't bother him in the slightest as he made use of his university degree to the fullest to design exercises around callisthenics. Weighted vests and dynamic agility drills became his forte as the man-tailored a specialised plan for him. However, he spent the majority of his time on the football field working on his ball skills and with the rest of the team.
It was after finishing his 8th day that he found himself seated in the team's lounger after getting cleaned up in the showers. "It's finally starting, I love these moments at the start of the season," Wendell stated as he plopped on the sofa next to him. Rakim nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips. Wendell was one of the few teammates he'd bonded with quickly, and the Brazilian's infectious energy often lightened the mood in the locker room.
Sending a quick text to May letting her know he'd pick her up from her photo shoot after the match Rakim put his full focus back on the room. His teammates formed small clicks as they ate some healthy snacks or drank their protein drink chatting with each other only half listening to the discussion on the TV. Those who had been playing in the Bundesliga for quite some time were already used to the di*k riding the media did when it came to the King of German football.
"They might as well hand them the trophy right now," Paulinho stated with a disgruntled expression as he continued scrolling through his Twitter feed. Since he was a professional athlete in Germany now, his phone also acclimated to his location automatically linking him with relevant news.
Given his age of only 18, it came as no wonder that he was pretty active on social media landing him in hot water quickly. The mute function didn't exist for him as he somehow ended up joining fan chat rooms where the staunches of fans waged wars. None of it was backed by logic as once passion seemed to be able to allow one to forget common sense and take on 20 people at once.
"You need to stop before you do something stupid," Tah told him from behind the sofa as he spotted the striker frantically typing on his phone utilising the little German he knew. "They just called me a KiK budget Pele, ... What is Kik is that good?" he retorted sending his question to the German people players in the room only to receive awkward glances from them.
The lounge was bustling with activity as more players trickled in, grabbing snacks or settling onto the plush couches that faced the wall of flat screens. The biggest one in the centre displayed the pre-match proceedings for the Bundesliga season opener: Bayern Munich vs. Hertha Berlin.
On-screen, the iconic Allianz Arena glowed under the floodlights as fans poured into the stands, a sea of red and white scarves waving in unison. Dietmar Hamann, Lothar Matthäus, and Nele Ocik were deep in conversation, their voices smooth and engaging as they dissected the tactical setups of both teams.
"Bayern will dominate possession, no question about that," Matthäus said, gesturing towards the lineup displayed beside him. "With Kimmich and Thiago controlling the midfield, they'll look to feed Lewandowski and new arrival Gnabry constantly as they look to see what he is made of."
"Hertha, on the other hand, will need to rely on quick transitions," Hamann interjected, tapping his pen against the desk. "Grujić and Lukébakio will be key. If they can capitalize on Bayern's high defensive line, they might stand a chance of surprising Kovac's men."
Nele Ocik nodded, her sharp features illuminated by the studio lights. "Absolutely, Dietmar. But let's not forget the pressure on Bayern's backline. Pavard and Süle are solid, but they can be exposed by pace. Lukébakio already proved last season he can trouble even the best defences." She paused, glancing at the camera. "And the Allianz Arena crowd will want nothing less than a statement win to kick off the season."
Rakim watched as the screen switched to a live feed of the players warming up on the field. The Bayern squad moved with precision, going through the last of their warmup drills trying to get as sharp as possible. The Hertha players, by contrast, seemed looser, perhaps feeding off the fact they had nothing to lose since they were battling the best team in Germany.
"You'd think Bayern were playing for a Champions League final with how seriously they warm up," Wendell chuckled, tossing a handful of trail mix into his mouth.
"That's why they're Bayern," Rakim replied, his tone taking on an excited tone after realising the fact he would get to play against them this season. However, seeing how seriously they took the match he figured it had to do with the weight of history that was on every player. It was much like how joining one of the two LaLiga giants who are filled with the glory of past victories and legendary moments they created.
"You regret not joining them?" Wendell responded poking the winger who had his eyes glued on Muller who could be seen doing a passing drill with Kimmich and Thiago.
"Naw I'd rather beat my favourite team than sit on their bench," he replied before refocusing on the screen where the camera had once again panned over to the pundits in their studio. On the screen, the camera panned across the Allianz Arena, capturing the fervour of the crowd. Nele Ocik's voiceover provided the context. "The reigning champions are coming off a successful season but face increasing pressure to maintain their dominance. Meanwhile, Hertha Berlin, under new management, hopes to make a statement tonight."
At around 19:20 The broadcast cut to the teams lining up in the tunnel, Rakim leaned forward, his focus sharpening as he could feel the excitement bubbling up within him. The Hertha players now wore more resolute expressions, while Bayern's stars exuded the calm confidence of a team accustomed to the spotlight. Derek Rae and analyst Stewart Robson took over as the match commentators.
As the players began their walk onto the pitch, the atmosphere in the lounge grew quieter, the hum of conversation replaced by the commentary's sharp clarity. Derek Rae's voice carried over the room, brimming with enthusiasm.
"And Here they Come!"