UNITED AS ONE

CHAPTER 10: BACK TO THE USMNT

Few days later;

Aaron, Steffen, Pulisic, Cameron-Vickers and Yedlin arrived in LA from UK. Then, they took an Uber to go to their hotel. When they arrived there, Berhalter is in the lobby waiting for them.

"Welcome back, all of you. You know that I can asked someone to pick you up in the airport, right?" asked Berhalter.

"Yes but well, don't waste money on us, coach. Or the federation won't have enough fund to pay the ladies more" replied Aaron. Berhalter shook his head.

"Anyway, let's go to the conference room now. Your teammates and the women team are already there" said Berhalter.

"So, we're the last one" said Yedlin.

"Yes. The players from other European nation had arrived yesterday" replied Berhalter as all of them walk into the conference room.

"I thought you boys are lost or something" said Adams as the players that just arrived took their seats.

"How can I lost? I was born and grew up here after all" replied Aaron.

"By the way, great debut in Europa League last week" said McKennie.

"Thanks, man" replied Aaron.

"Still it's not the Champions League" said Pulisic.

"What's the point playing in the Champions League when your team got beaten 4-1 in the very first match of the league" replied Aaron.

"Ah, shut up" said Pulisic. Aaron just chuckled. Later on, the head coaches of both men and women team started their briefing. It's ended with Berhalter announced Pulisic as the new captain for the men's team and Andonovski announced Becky Sauerbrunn as the new captain of the women's team.

Later in the room;

"Don't you feel bad that your sister is no longer a captain?" asked Pulisic as he and Aaron just settled down in their room.

"Not really. Besides, the captaincy just give her more pressure. I think that she's better without it" replied Aaron.

"Speak from the experience, huh" said Pulisic.

"Yeah. Last week's pressure really got me. I'm glad that I managed to get my shit together and lead the team to victory" replied Aaron.

"Now it makes me feel pressure. We'll have Argentina for friendly before facing Cuba though" said Pulisic.

"Well, with the team we have right now, we might have a chance" replied Aaron.

"That's true" said Pulisic.

Meanwhile in Alex and Kelley's room;

"So, Lex. It seems that your brother and husband will play in the same team again" said Kelley.

"So what?" asked Alex.

"Do you think that they will tear each other apart?" asked Kelley in returned.

"Hope not. It will be chaotic if that happens" replied Alex.

"Yeah. It might not be a good way for the men as they will face Argentina" said Kelley.

"That's true" replied Alex.

On the next day;

All players are having a joint practice that day as they were divided by their position. All forward are working with their shooting.

"Can you show us that freekick of yours that was nominated for Puskas Award?" asked Sargent.

"Oh, the one that I scored against Liverpool, huh. Sure" replied Aaron. He then set the ball in the position before took some distance. Then, he dashed towards the ball before kicked it into the net.