On the two matches in London, Notts County suffered heavy losses—the Championship sides Queens Park Rangers and Crystal Palace were simply too strong for a team still finding its footing. Yet amidst the defeats, there were glimmers of hope. The veteran striker Hübner maintained excellent form, seizing the few chances he got and emerging as a steady pillar in the team.
In midfield, David's prized signings showed promise. Although Alonso was not yet fully commanding the rhythm, compared to other English teams that relied merely on brute force, Notts County had the beginnings of tactical control—precisely what Low desired.
Back in London, the team underwent intense technical and tactical training, sometimes practicing three times a day. Though exhausting, the players gritted their teeth, appreciating the clear progress.
David's role as assistant coach was limited; he rarely appeared on the training ground but took on another crucial duty—psychological counseling.
One day after training, Andrés Iniesta tentatively knocked on David's office door and entered.
David smiled warmly. In his past life, he'd admired Iniesta's elegant play, often lost in the artistry of the game. But here was a 17-year-old boy, still raw and vulnerable.
"Andrés, what's troubling you? How can I help?" David asked, patting the sofa as he sat opposite him.
The club had arranged for the new foreign players to live near the training ground and hired English tutors, but David knew young players so far from home inevitably suffered psychological ups and downs.
"Mr. David," Iniesta said softly, "I'm sorry if this sounds cowardly, but I worry about playing here—especially for years on end." He hesitated, his voice barely above a whisper. "The English game is so fierce, the tackles so brutal, I genuinely fear getting seriously injured."
He rolled up his pant leg to reveal a badly bruised calf.
David wasn't surprised certain players struggled with the physicality, especially a teenage boy unaccustomed to such intensity. Many stars before had voiced similar concerns about England's rough style, and young players like Iniesta surely had every right to feel uneasy.
David smiled kindly. "You're right, Andrés. English football is incredibly physical, and that's why I want to hear your thoughts."
Iniesta took a deep breath. "I feel more comfortable with the Latin style—skillful, team-oriented football. Spain's style suits my growth better than constant physical battles here."
He knew these words made him sound like a deserter.
David poured him a glass of water, placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, and chose his words carefully.
"You may be correct. Some statistics show Premier League players suffer almost twice the injuries over a month compared to Serie A or La Liga players. The battle in the lower English leagues is even fiercer."
"But injuries exist everywhere. No league is free from them. As a professional, preparing for, understanding, and overcoming injuries mentally is part of your journey. I believe you may not be fully ready for that challenge yet."
He continued, "Even if you were to return to Spain, one day you will face a Premier League team in Champions League or UEFA Cup matches. What then? Will you keep running? How would you tell your coach you fear those hard tackles?"
Iniesta looked up at David, dumbstruck and speechless.
"I don't believe evasion is an answer for a man. I can't convince you with my experience, but think of those players who suffered serious injuries, yet fought back stronger. Those are the players you should aspire to be."
David leaned back, softening his tone, "If you want, you might talk to David."
Iniesta blinked, surprised.
By "David," he meant not the chairman but David Villa, the team's Spanish striker.
Villa was one player who regularly faced brutal English defenders head-on and survived—and thrived.
After seeing off a thoughtful but still concerned Iniesta, David's heart ached quietly. He knew Iniesta's future depended on overcoming this fear. Losing such a cornerstone of the young team would be devastating.
If persuasion failed, loaning Iniesta back to Spain, to mature and gain confidence over the coming years, was perhaps the only viable option.
However, David found hope soon after—the young Spaniard was seen voluntarily hitting the gym after training, focusing on strength conditioning. His actions said more than words; he was choosing to confront his fears.
Whether Iniesta had sought advice from Villa or not mattered little. What counted was that the future World Cup MVP was still here, still fighting alongside Notts County.