"It has to do with me?"
Maël knew very well that Gareth Speed had made a point of coming over to tell him this because he had already placed Maël on equal footing with himself and shown him full respect.
He had not treated him like a child, nor had he been constrained by his status as coach. Instead, it was more like a casual chat between friends.
Most of the people on the train were wearing earphones and had dozed off. The two of them sat in the very back row; only Gilbert and a handful of others might have been able to hear their conversation.
"Arsenal will most likely recall you halfway through the season. That much is obvious."
Gareth Speed took off his suit jacket and said in a deep voice, "If you leave halfway through the season, then I may choose to leave as well.
"I don't want to say something this serious and sappy in a place like this, but I still have to say it. You carry this team's hopes. Everyone has expectations of you."
He paused, then continued, "When you're here, everyone feels that maybe we can do something this season.
"But if you leave, the players, who already have no relegation pressure at all, will probably slack off and let themselves go, ultimately finishing this season with nothing to show for it as a mid-table team."
Gareth Speed spread his hands slightly, as if to say that if that happened, there would be no point in him staying here either.
Maël froze. He had not expected that he was already so important to this team and to Gareth Speed.
People sometimes did not necessarily have a clear understanding of themselves.
"Whether I leave or not isn't up to me."
Maël replied, feeling